THE BIRDS OF ST KILDA 231 



Lapwings visited the island in winter; and in 1894 the 

 Rev. Mr Fiddes assured Steele Elliot (p. 84) that the 

 bird occurred every spring on migration. The Rev. J. 

 Waterston saw one on Ruaval on 19th June 1905 

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



* Strepsilas interpres, Turnstone. — A few birds of 

 this species may possibly be winter visitors, but we did 

 not observe any Turnstones after 30th September, 

 though down to that date a few had been present 

 throughout our visits. The rocks fringing the East Bay, 

 including those of Dun, were their chief resorts. They 

 were not numerous, and never more than five were seen 

 together. 



H^MATOPUS OSTRALEGUS, Oyster-catcher. — Martin 

 (p. 64) mentions this species as the "Tirma or Sea-pie" 

 — and Macaulay (p. 160) as the " Sea- Magpie." Since 

 the days of these earliest writers, the bird has come 

 under the notice of most visitors to St Kilda. The 

 Rev. Neil Mackenzie (p. 153) says that it arrives in 

 February, and leaves when the young ones are fully 

 fledged, and that a few remain all winter. Wiglesworth 

 (p. 52) says that it is not numerous, but that several 

 pairs breed round the coasts. 



We only saw single birds on 3rd and 8th September 

 1 9 10, and a single bird was present on ©ur arrival, and 

 remained for several days. Two were seen on 8th 

 September, and one on ist October. 



Neil Ferguson informed me that considerable 

 numbers breed, but leave the island during August 

 with their young. 



ScoLOPAX RUSTicuLA, Woodcock. — The Rev. Neil 

 Mackenzie (p. 76) says that a few generally come in 

 November, but not regularly. Neil Ferguson told me 



