THE FLANNAN ISLES 255 



number stay the winter. Late in March great flocks 

 gather on the island previous to departure, and many 

 are then in summer plumage. It is also observed in 

 numbers on passage, with other emigrants bound north 

 in April. 



Lapland Bunting, Calcarius lapponicus. — We found 

 this species present on our arrival on the island on 6th 

 September, and the keepers told us that the birds were 

 seen by them on the 3rd, and were thought to be Snow- 

 Buntings. It was one of the first birds seen by us, and 

 was still present on the island at the date of our departure. 

 From careful computations we set down their number at 

 from thirty to forty individuals, but there may have been 

 more, for we were not able to visit the other islands, 

 some of which were equally well suited for their require- 

 ments. They sought food on the bare patches of peat, 

 and down the face of the cliffs ; and at night roosted 

 among the coarse grass growing on the top of the 

 island and on the steep banks. When on the wing they 

 were inclined to be noisy, some of their notes resembling 

 those of a Linnet, others those of the Snow- Bunting, 

 especially its call note tilke, tuke. They were usually 

 seen in small parties, perhaps families, and the examples 

 obtained were adults of both sexes and young birds of 

 the year. 



Skylark, Alauda arvensis. — Strange to say, we only 

 saw a single example — namely, an immature bird, on 

 1 2th September. The northern migrants do not arrive 

 until October, and the passage southwards lasts until the 

 end of November. 



Short-toed Lark, Calandrella brachydadyla. — This 

 unlooked-for visitor from Southern Europe is believed to 

 have appeared on the night of 19th September. It was 



