416 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



THE BIRDS OF SARK ; AND VARIATION IN SONG. 



By H. E. Howard. 



I arrived at Sark on March 1st, having sailed across from 

 Guernsey, a distance of about eight miles. Owing to the state of 

 the tide and wind, the landing had to be made at the port of Havre 

 Goslin, which landing-place consists of an iron ladder fixed on 

 the cliffs, perpendicular for some distance, with a fairly steep 

 climb at the end of it. The island is three and a half miles long 

 by one and a half broad, and is encompassed with vertical cliffs 

 two or three hundred feet high. Part of the land is cultivated, 

 and part kept for grazing. The chief feature, however, is the 

 number of valleys running down to the edge of the cliffs, valleys, 

 which, for the most part, are covered with whins, and which 

 account for the great number of stone-chats to be found there. 



I was too early to see if the island was visited much by 

 migrants, but I noticed one or two movements. On the 4th, 

 flocks of Green Plover were passing the south end of the island, 

 heading towards the east ; the weather was fine at the time, with 

 sea fogs in the morning. On the 11th, while walking near the 

 cliffs facing south, I was attracted by a quiet note, very much 

 like that of a Goldcrest, but sufficiently distinct to arrest 

 attention. After waiting for a short time, the bird appeared 

 out of a dense mass of bramble, and I had the pleasure of recog- 

 nising a Fire -crest (Regulus ignicapillus). I watched this bird 

 at different times for two days, often within a few feet — never 

 more than twenty-five yards away. The plumage was beautiful, 

 evidently full breeding, the golden hue on the nape and sides 

 being especially bright. The weather had been fine and warm 

 with sea fogs in the morning, and a slight wind from W.S.W. 

 On the 12th, a single Wheatear appeared, and also on the same 

 date I flushed a Woodcock amongst the gorse on the east cliffs. 

 The number of Stonechats kept increasing daily ; I noticed no 

 old males among them. On the 12th, also, the Kittiwakes were 



