8 REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



(which are rare on the Isle of May), occurred Oct. 4th and 5th. 

 A Redpole on 8th, at Sumburgh Head.] A rush between Oct. 

 20th and 27th at Isle of May, during which time Eedpoles (20th 

 and 24th), Chaffinches (22nd), Bramblings (21st), one Siskin 

 (27th), and Grey Linnets or Twites (24th), at Sumburgh 

 Head; about fifty, along with ten Larks (see Alaudid.f.). 

 Occasional birds seen at Isle of May : — Nov. 12th, one Siskin ; 

 28th, one hen Linnet ; and on Nov. 21st, at Inch Keith, one 

 Siskin. On Dec. 3rd, at Isle of May, one Redpole, preserved 

 in spirits {vide infra), and one Brambling, same time and 

 place. On the 4th, Green Linnets at Sumburgh Head, and in 

 Jan., 1882 (latest), three Green Linnets on 14th. In Shetland 

 prevailing winds during the winter were from S.W., ** and con- 

 sequently no strange birds visited us." A flock of Mealy Eedpoles 

 arrived at Lerwick, and took up their abode for a time in Mr. 

 P. T. Garrick's garden, at Prospect House. This movement 

 doubtless belongs to the Spring Migration of 1882. In August 

 unusually large flocks of Greenfinches were observed by Mr. 

 Service near Dumfries; left after two weeks, and reappeared 

 in January, 1882. 



Emberizid,^. — Spring : Isle of May and Bell Rock. Earliest 

 at Bell Rock, March 17th (one *' Snowflake " flying from N.W. to 

 S.E.); latest (and only other spring record) at Isle of May, 

 April 9th (three ''Mountain Sparrows ". identified as Snow 

 Buntings). — Autumn : Whalsey Skerries, Sumburgh Head, Pent- 

 land Skerries, Dunnet Head, Tarbet Ness, Isle of May, and Inch 

 Keith, Snow Buntings, numerous records, and reported as 

 unusually plentiful at many stations. Earliest at Isle of May, 

 Sept. 24th, where, Mr. Agnew writes, "they are never i3lentiful" ; 

 latest, Dec. 10th to Jan. 28!h, at Isle of May. Rushes at 

 "Whalsey Skerries, Sumburgh Head, Pentland Skerries, and 

 Dunnet Head, Sept. 20th to 25th (note migration of other species 

 at Isle of May, Sept. 22nd — see notes under Turdid^). Rushes 

 spasmodical, at different places, on different dates. Rush Dec. 

 3rd to 21st; after, stragglers {i.e., flocks of forty or fifty). — 

 Weather : In October winds S. and N.W., at Sumburgh Head, to 

 fresh E. and N., cloudy, clear, or-showery. In November S. gale 

 on 4th at Pentland Skerries. Calm or N. on 9th, S.S.W. or S. 

 on 14th, and on 17th S. or N. December variable from light 

 S.W. at Isle of May to fresh N.E. and S.E., light W. and light 



