THE FLANNAN ISLES 253 



they are performed by many species during both spring 

 and autumn. 



In addition to regular migrants, these visitors include 

 a number of extremely rare species, such as the Short- 

 toed Lark, the Two-barred Crossbill, the Siberian 

 Skylark, and the Pratincole. For such as these, the 

 Flannan Islands are strange destinations ; they are 

 among the very last places at which one would expect 

 them to appear. 



In winter these islands are visited during periods of 

 great severity and snow by a number of birds seeking 

 genial retreats. These evicted birds, however, do not, 

 as a rule, remain long on the island. 



We arrived at Eilean Mor, after a rather rough 

 passage, on the morning of 6th September, and remained 

 in residence at the lighthouse until the next "relief" 

 was effected on the 21st. 



The result of our investigations added considerably 

 to the knowledge we hitherto possessed on the migrants 

 visiting the archipelago. We felt, however, that we 

 might have accomplished more, if only we could have 

 visited daily the island, Eilean Tigh, lying immediately 

 to the south, and separated from us by a narrow sound. 

 It would not only have afforded an important extension 

 of our field for observation, but also additional scope for 

 our energies, which were decidedly circumscribed. 



The lantern of the lighthouse is of great power, 

 140,000 candle, and is concentrated into three brilliant 

 slowly revolving beams. Few birds, however, visited it 

 during our sojourn on the island, which was not surpris- 

 ing, for the weather conditions were almost uniformly 

 unfavourable for "a night at the lantern," being clear 

 and free from moisture. 



