OBNITHOLOGICAL VISIT TO THE FAROES. 85 



Meadow-Pipit (Anthus pratensis). Native name, " Graatuj- 

 tlingur." — This species must have decreased very considerably 

 since the visit of Col. Feilden to the islands in 1872, for he 

 describes it as extremely abundant. We saw and heard it on 

 Sydero, Sando, and Stromo, but it was nowhere numerous, and 

 only found in the valleys and cultivated spots, and then only in 

 small numbers. We did not look for or find a single nest, 

 though I saw one bird just fledged on Stromo on June 19th. 



Eock-Pipit {Anthus obscurus). Native name same as used for 

 Meadow-Pipit. — Seen and heard on Sydero, Sando, and Stromo. 

 One nest with four much incubated eggs found on Nolso. June 

 17th. These birds were generally to be seen on the rocky 

 shores, though on one or two occasions in fairly elevated spots 

 among the mountains. We had no opportunity of verifying 

 Col. Feilden's observations in regard to size and plumage, as 

 no birds were taken, and they were extremely shy and difficult to 

 approach. 



Stabling (Stumus vulgaris). Native name, "Steari." — Not 

 met with on Sydero ; first seen at Skaalevig, on Sando, where 

 several were seen about the buildings. It was not until we 

 reached Thorshavn that this bird was found at all numerous. On 

 the evening of our arrival we saw several small flocks flying about 

 the town, and settling in the trees opposite the hotel where we 

 were staying. We were informed that they were steadily in- 

 creasing, for they receive every encouragement from the Fseroese, 

 and are now protected all the year by the Game Act of April 

 23rd, 1897. They are looked upon as almost sacred, and it would 

 be as great a crime to shoot or kill a "Steari " in the Faroes as 

 it is to kill a Stork in Holland. It is, in these islands, a valuable 

 bird to the agriculturist and horticulturist. I was not able to 

 find out to what extent the Starling takes toll of the black, red, 

 and white currants, also the few strawberries — which are the only 

 fruit grown on the island. The currant-bush here assumes an 

 enormous size, and it was no uncommon sight to see them from 

 four to seven feet high, and from two to three feet through ; there 

 was an abundance of fruit, which had just started to swell. These 

 bushes were nearly all in sheltered positions, and there was a total 

 absence of that destructive pest, the black currant mite (Phy- 

 toptus ribis), which is devastating the black currant in this 



