The Annals OF Scottish Natural History A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE . WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED Q EDITED BY J. A. HARVIE-BROWN, F.R.S.E., F.Z.S MEMBER OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION JAMES W. H. TRAIL, M.A., M.D., F.R.S., F.L.S. PROFESSOR OF BOTANY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN WILLIAM EAGLE CLARKE, F.L.S., F.R.S.E. KEEPER OF THE NATURAL HISTORY DEPARTMENT, THE ROYAL SCOTTISH MUSEUM, EDINBURGH EDINBURGH DAVID DOUGLAS, CASTLE STREET LONDON: R. H. PORTER, 7 PRINCES ST., CAVENDISH SQUARE The Annals of Scottish Natural History No. 69] 1909 [JANUARY ON THE OCCURRENCE OF EVERSMANN'S WARBLER (PHYLLOSCOPUS BOREALIS (BLASIUS)) AT FAIR ISLE: AN ADDITION TO THE BRITISH FAUNA. By WM. EAGLE CLARKE, F.R.S.E., F.L.S. ON the 28th of September last, while in search of migra- tory birds at Fair Isle, I put up from a patch of potatoes, where it was hiding, a dark-coloured Willow Warbler, which I at once suspected belonged to some species I had never before seen in life. I was fortunate enough to secure the bird, and congratulated myself, as I contemplated its out- stretched wings each with a conspicuous single bar and its well-defined, pale, superciliary stripe, on the capture of the third British example of the Greenish Willow Warbler (Ph. viridanus). On my return to Edinburgh, however, I was agreeably surprised to find that my bird was undoubtedly an example of Eversmann's Warbler (Ph. borealis] a bird which had not hitherto been detected in Britain. The descriptions of this species are misleading, far too much importance being made of the so-called double wing-bar. The second bar is absent in some examples, while in others it is only present a flecks in the shape of few of greyish- white on the tips.of- 69 B 32492 2 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY the median wing coverts. A much safer guide is to be found in the wing formula. In this species the second in the fifth and primary quill is intermediate length between sixth, the third and fourth are equal and are the longest, the fifth is much shorter, and the sixth is considerably shorter than the fifth. In all these respects the Fair Isle specimen, which is a male, agrees with the descriptions, and the wing measures 2.55 inches. In colour the upper surface is darker than that of our familiar Willow Warbler (P. trochilus], being dusky greyish- the is well extends on to the green ; eye-stripe defined, and is the coverts are nape, yellowish-white ; greater wing broadly tipped with greyish-white, forming a conspicuous the cheeks with the under wing-bar ; whitish, dappled grey ; surface whitish, greyer on the breast and flanks, and faintly washed with greenish-yellow. On examination, the contents of the gizzard were found to consist of a Phalangid, two Noctuid larvae, and the remains of Scatophaga stercoraria and Anthomyia pJiorbia and many fragments of other Dipterous insects. This species has only once before, I believe, been obtained in Western Europe, namely, at Heligoland on the 6th of since October 1854. This is, perhaps, somewhat remarkable, the bird occurs in summer in Finmark and Northern Russia. It also summers throughout Siberia, and has been obtained in Alaska, where it is known to American ornithologists as Kennicott's Willow Warbler. In winter it occurs in Burma, the Malay Peninsula, the Andaman Islands, China, Formosa, Borneo, etc. It would be extremely interesting to know where the European contingent pass the cold season, for it is difficult to believe that there are no winter retreats for the Asia. species nearer than the eastern section of Southern Eversmann's Warbler frequents woods composed of deciduous trees in elevated districts, especially those in the it seeks vicinity of water. Its food consists of insects, which as high up among the foliage. The nest is described being a semi-domed structure of moss and dry grass, placed on the five or six ground, and lined with fine grass. The eggs are in number, rather larger than those of the Willow Warbler, and are white abundantly spotted with pink. AUTUMN BIRD NOTES FROM THE OUTER HEBRIDES 3 SOME AUTUMN BIRD NOTES FROM THE OUTER HEBRIDES. By the DUCHESS OF BEDFORD. As comparatively few Ornithologists visit the Outer Hebrides in the month of November for bird-watching, the following notes, made in Barra and South Uist between the 3 ist October and 8th November, may be of interest. Fortunately, Barra boasts of resident observers who have kept a very careful record of the birds for many years, but, as migrants often spend but a day or two in passing, it is not possible even for residents to note more than a small proportion of their interesting visitors. At this time of year every day brings something worthy of note, whether it be the arrival of regular winter visitors, of rare stragglers, or the exceptionally late appear- ance of summer migrants (on passage from Northern Europe), which are generally supposed to have left the British Islands several weeks earlier. Amongst these last were three Wheatears, seen on the ist November, and a Chiff-chaff on the 7th. Probably a great many of the Chaffinches, Hedge Sparrows, Greenfinches, and Golden-crested Wrens that were there in the beginning of the month were also migrating. The only thick bit of shrubbery that I know of on this island is a great attraction to these birds. When visiting it on 3rd November my attention was at once arrested by a little brown bird, which I at first took for a Warbler. Its strikingly large eye, buff breast, and some very conspicuous white about the tail puzzled me very much, as the bird was so restless that I could not see exactly where the white came. At last, however, it obligingly perched on a wire fence only the width of a narrow road from me, and I was able to see that with the exception of the dark centre feathers the basal half of the tail was white. I then recognized that it was either a female or a young male Red - breasted Flycatcher (Mtiscicapa pama). The Geese arrived much later than usual. On the 3 ist 4 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY October I saw a single Bernacle Goose, and on ist Novem- ber three Brent Geese. These latter were so tame that I walked up within gunshot of them on the sands without disturbing them. On the 3rd November, for the first time, I noticed large flocks of Bernacle, Brent, and Grey-lag Geese, also a flock of thirteen Whooper Swans flying over. On a still day Barra Sound is seen to be teeming with bird-life. The Great Northern Diver is a common bird, and five or six may often be seen at one moment. The Slavonian Grebe is also by no means uncommon, and I have seen five in one morning round the rocks. I have counted over 300 Mergansers in one small bay. The Eider Ducks and Long- tailed Ducks are more select and go about in smaller parties, but they are scattered in every direction. There are a few Black Guillemots and an abundance of Gulls ; amongst the latter, however, the Lesser Black-backed is conspicuous by its absence. Manx Shearwaters and Arctic Skuas are scarce, but an occasional one may be seen near the open sea. Redwings and Fieldfares had arrived on the 3rd November, and on the same day I saw a flock of Bramblings, and on the 5th came upon a flock of Snow-Buntings on the Island of Fuday. It is curious to watch the Seals following my Pekingese Spaniel along the shore for half a mile or more, even when he is on the sandhills above them and quite sixty to seventy yards from the sea. I have seen as many as sixteen collect and swim close to the shore in sight of him. On an island near Tobermory, on my way to the Outer Hebrides, I saw a Stoat slip into the sea, without a moment's hesitation, as an Otter would take to the river, and swim over to another island. Before leaving the Outer Hebrides I spent one morning on South Uist (6th November). There were very large flocks of Bernacle and White-fronted Geese on the western side of the island, and a considerable number of Whooper Swans on one of the lochs, also six Grey Plovers on the shore of the loch. Just before reaching the pier where my launch was waiting for me, I put up a Redstart. It sat on a wire fence close to me, and gave me ample opportunity of seeing from its size, uniform sooty-brown plumage, and red AUTUMN BIRD NOTES FROM THE OUTER HEBRIDES 5 tail, that it was a Black Redstart (R. titys). Not only was it larger than R. phcenicurus, but it struck me as being of slimmer build. The only other bird worthy of note seen on this occasion was the Hen- Harrier. Won URN ABBEY, WOBURN. BIRD NOTES FROM THE ISLE OF MAY FOR THE YEAR 1908. By EVELYN V. BAXTER. THANKS to the observations made by Mr. Maccuish, I am able to supplement the account of my own work on the Isle of May with many interesting notes which he has sent me during the year. I arrived on the island on loth September and stayed till 9th October. I was alone for the first fort- night, but my cousin, Miss Jackson of Swordale, was with me for the latter half of my visit.