ST. RlLftA ANi> ITS BlftDS. 357 



I left the island, the bird having been shot last September. 

 There are certain birds also which have been observed on 

 St. Kilda, and which may possibly breed there, thongh the 

 nests have never yet been discovered. One of these is 

 the Dunlin {Tringa alpina). On June 14th I saw four of 

 these birds in full breeding • plumage, running about the 

 boulders which crown the beach at Tillage Bay, and on a 

 patch of marshy ground adjoining. They were very tame, 

 and allowed me to approach within three or four yards 

 without flying off. It is quite possible that this bird may 

 eventually be found breeding on some of the high ground 

 in the island, though I did not myself meet with it in that 

 situation. The Whimbrel (Numenius ptfuzopus) is another 

 case in point. It is not uncommon round the coasts, where 

 I frequently saw it, and I had two recently shot birds 

 brought to me. I was assured by the natives that it was 

 frequently seen on the high ground during the summer ; 

 but though I explored every possible nesting site for it 

 on several occasions, I failed to discover the least evidence 

 of its breeding. It is quite possible, however, that it may 

 do so at times. As the breeding of the common Snipe in 

 the island has only quite recently been definitely estab- 

 lished, it is reasonable to suppose that the list of breeding 

 species will be somewhat extended as the group becomes 

 better worked. The Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) may 

 also be mentioned in this connection. I saw a bird on the 

 top of Mullach Mor one afternoon, which I am confident 

 was of this species, but I failed to discover any nest. It 

 probably breeds, though its nest has apparently never been 

 taken. On the other hand, some birds are given as breed- 

 ing species by Dixon and others, the nesting of which is 

 doubtful. As to Larus fuscus, which is said by Dixon (7) 

 to breed plentifully, I failed to discover any evidence ; 

 although I was on the constant look out for it, I never 



