OBSERVATIONS ON THE FAUNA OF ST. KILDA. 283 



in the British Islands in such a northern and out-of-the-way 

 locality as St. Kilda. 



St. Kildian Wren. — I found it frequenting both Borrera 

 and Doon as well as St. Kilda, and probably Soa, which I 

 did not visit, as the latter island is not far removed from the 

 main island, whereas Borrera lies some five miles away to N.E. 

 Mr. Fiddies informed me that it was once far commoner than it 

 is at present, especially about the village. Its eggs are known to the 

 natives as being well worth securing, always finding a ready sale 

 among the English and other dealers. About fifteen pairs would 

 fully represent their number on these islands now It rests 

 entirely with collectors whether this bird is to be exterminated, 

 or remain one of the greatest attractions of the island to the 

 ornithologists of the future. The male birds inherit the habit of 

 their mainland representatives by building supernumerary nests 

 for themselves. Besides these unlined nests, I found one con- 

 taining five eggs quite fresh on June 11th; another with one egg 

 on June 12th, to which other eggs were added, but unfortunately 

 were destroyed ; and still another nest I was fortunate to discover, 

 containing four or five young and one addled egg, on June 20th. 

 One of these young I brought away and forwarded to the Uni- 

 versity Museum, Cambridge, as a most interesting specimen in 

 a valuable stage of its development. The eggs in two of the 

 nests were of the spotted type, very similar in some markings to 

 the ordinary type of the Great Tit. The egg taken from the 

 nest with young is almost white, with a few very fine speckles 

 only upon it. The sites chosen for the nests found were either 

 on the face of the cliffs, more or less hidden by the overhanging 

 grasses and other herbage, or inside among the stonework under 

 the roof of the various " cleits" so numerous all over the island. 

 The materials chosen are according to what is most suitable for 

 the surroundings, and obtainable in this locality. 



Pied Wagtail. — One appeared close to the manse on June 

 6th, but was not afterwards observed. 



Rock Pipit. — A common bird on the islands. Nests were 

 found under the boulders on the hill- side as well as in clefts in 

 the rocks. The Meadow Pipit was not observed, although Sir 

 Wm. Milner has suggested that it breeds there. 



Tree Sparrow. — Common. It nests principally in the walls 



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