236 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



In 191 1, however, we saw single birds on 3rd, 7th, and 

 8th September. This is one of the species that we 

 should expect to be a regular visitor on its spring and 

 autumn movements between its seasonal haunts, which 

 include Iceland in summer. 



* Sterna macrura, Arctic Tern. — The Duchess 

 of Bedford informs me that she saw an Arctic Tern 

 fishing in the East Bay near the landing-place on 

 23rd August 1910. Terns would appear to be extremely 

 rare in the St Kildan seas, for they have not hitherto 

 come under the notice of any of the naturalists who have 

 visited the group. One would have expected some of 

 these birds to appear annually during the spring and 

 autumn movements to and from their northern breeding- 

 haunts. 



Larus ridibundus. Black-headed Gull. — The Rev. 

 H. Macpherson {Ibis, 1887, p. 470) was informed by 

 Mr George Murray that one arrived on St Kilda on 13th 

 April 1887 ; and Steele Elliot (p. 286) mentions that a 

 specimen of this Gull was once obtained by Mr J. 

 Mackenzie. I am informed by Dr Wiglesworth that he 

 received a specimen which had been caught on the sand 

 at the head of the East Bay. Twelve others were 

 observed on the water close by. 



Larus canus, Common Gull. — J. MacGillivray, who 

 was at St Kilda in July 1840, describes this species as 

 the least common species of Gull, and Milner (p. 2062) 

 records that a nest and eggs of the Common Gull were 

 taken at Boreray, St Kilda, on 15th June 1847. 

 Kearton {With Nature and a Camera, p. 57) includes 

 this species in the list of birds he " saw and identified in 

 the islands," but as the Kittiwake has no place in this 

 list, the inference is obvious. On the other hand, Dixon 



