THE BIRDS or ST KILDA 219 



resided in the island from 1829 to 1843, as an occasional 

 visitor. It seems, from the scanty data, to be irregular 

 in its appearance, but in the years 1883 and 1885 

 Swallows were seen, according to Dixon (pp. 83 and 360), 

 in late spring in some numbers. Dr Wiglesworth 

 informs me that one was found alive in the church 

 on 29th May 1907. There are several other records, 

 all relating to a few birds, seen during the first half 

 of the month of June. 



Chelidon urbica, House-Martin. — The visits of 

 single specimens of the Martin have been noted on four 

 occasions — namely, on 9th June 1887, as recorded in The 

 Ibis (1887, p. 470) by the Rev H. A. Macpherson, on 

 the authority of Mr James Murray ; one obtained by 

 Mr Mackenzie, the factor, on a date unmentioned 

 (Steele Elliot, p. 284); one on 17th June 1905; and 

 another a week later, seen by the Rev. J. Waterston 

 (Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 1905, p. 202). 



* Iynx torquilla. Wryneck. — One was found resting 

 on the stone wall which forms the western boundary of 

 the crofted area, on 6th September 19 10, the most 

 productive day for migrants during our sojourn on the 

 island in that year. 



CucuLUS CANORUS, Cuckoo. — The visits of the Cuckoo 

 to St Kilda have always been regarded by the inhabitants 

 as the precursor of important events. Martin (pp. 46- 

 47) tells us that it is "very rarely seen here, and 

 that upon extraordinary occasions, such as the death of 

 the proprietor Macleod, the steward's death, or the 

 arrival of some notable stranger." The same beliefs 

 still survive, and were reported in the public press in 

 connection with the bird's appearance in the spring of 

 1910. The Rev. Neil Mackenzie (p. 76) records it as 



