THE BIRDS OF SCILLY. 297 



settling in for a prolonged stay. In October, 1863, F. R. Rodd 

 and Pechell witnessed a similar migration, and, along with 

 another gun, killed three hundred Larks in three days — nearly 

 all single flying shots. 



The Wood-Lark is a rare casual winter visitor. Two were 

 shot by Pechell behind the Great Rock, Tresco, on Dec. 5th, 

 1859 ; two at the same spot by F. R, Rodd on Dec. 29th, 1870 ; 

 one by David Smith in 1891 ; and one by a fisherman near 

 Peninnis Head, St. Mary's, on Dec. 28th, 1904. On Sept. 28th, 

 1854, Pechell saw two Short-toed Larks at Skirt Point, Tresco, 

 and secured one — the only record for the county. 



The Swift is at least an occasional bird of passage in spring 

 and in the last week of July. Curiously enough, it does not 

 appear to have been seen in the month of August. The granite 

 rocks of the islands are identical in appearance with those on 

 which it breeds on the Cornish moors, but there is no record 

 of its having nested in Scilly. The Nightjar is by no means 

 uncommon in autumn, and, though seen on Samson on July 

 12th, 1 903, has never been known to nest. Its favourite haunts 

 are Abbey Hill Downs, Castle and Middle Downs, Tresco, the 

 Higher Downs, St. Mary's, and Bryher Hill, Samson. In August, 

 1901, Dorrien- Smith saw a large flock of these birds on Annett. 

 The Wryneck is a rare casual. Pechell shot one in October, 

 1849 ; one was picked up dead on the Middle Downs, Tresco, in 

 October, 1852 ; one shot in 1882 ; and one by Dorrien- Smith in 

 April, 1894. The Picince are represented by a single specimen of 

 the Green Woodpecker, killed on St. Mary's in September, 1901. 

 Another is reported to have been killed on the north of Tresco in 

 1872, but the specimen cannot be traced, and the authority for 

 the statement is unknown. The Kingfisher is a casual autumn 

 and winter visitor, occurring, as a rule, singly, but not in- 

 frequently recorded. It usually appears near the fresh-water 

 ponds on Tresco, Bryher, St. Mary's, and especially beside the 

 old well, or rather sloping hollow, on the island of Tean. It is 

 also occasionally seen at Newford Pool, St. Mary's, and has been 

 twice noticed among the western islands. The Roller does not 

 seem to have visited Scilly, but two or else three Bee-eaters 

 appeared at Holy Vale, St. Mary's, in October, 1901, and one of 

 them — an immature male — was shot. In June, 1878, one was 



Zool. 4th ser. vol. X., August, 1906. 2 A 



