256 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



detected as a stranger early the following day, its light 

 colour and small size attracting attention. Its note on 

 rising on the wing, when disturbed, resembled that of a 

 Skylark. It proved to be a female, and is the first 

 recorded occurrence of this species for Scotland, and 

 in 1904 the Flannans were the most northerly known 

 locality in Europe visited by this bird. 



White Wagtail, Motacilla alba.- — This species is 

 probably common on migration in both spring and 

 autumn. It was certainly one of the most abundant 

 migrants observed by us from the day of our arrival, 6th 

 September, to our departure on the 21st. During this 

 period two distinct arrivals took place — namely, on the 

 night of the 8th, along with Meadow-Pipits and Wheat- 

 ears, and again on the nth, when it appeared along 

 with the same species at 2.30 a.m., at which hour several 

 came to the lantern. The numbers dwindled after the 

 13th, but a few were present down to the 23rd, as is 

 testified to by specimens received after our departure. 



[Grey-headed Wagtail, Motacilla thunbergi. — A 

 bird, believed to be of this species, appeared on the 

 morning of 20th September, and for two days bafHed all 

 our attempts to solve its identity with certainty. It was 

 shy, wary, and restless in the extreme, and never allowed 

 us to get a good view of it through our binoculars.] 



Meadow-Pipit, Anthus pratensis. — This species was 

 abundant during the whole period covered by our visit ; 

 and there were considerable arrivals on 8th September, 

 with White Wagtails and Wheatears ; on the loth, from 

 8.30 to 10 P.M. ; and again on the nth, with Wheatears 

 and White Wagtails. 



Rock - Pipit, Anthus obscurus. — Resident and 

 extremely abundant. It was marvellously tame, being 



