THE BIRDS OF THE ISLAND OF BARRA 143 



bird which was got on 6th October 1893, an d it appeared to 

 be an adult male in the autumn plumage. I do not think the 

 species has been found in any other part of the Outer Hebrides. 



MEADOW PIPIT, Anthus pratensis, L. Abundant, resident, chief 

 foster parent of young Cuckoo. 



ROCK PIPIT, Anthus obscurus, Latham. Abundant, resident, and 

 breeding. 



SWALLOW, Hirundo rustica, L. A few seen on migration in spring 

 and autumn, but does not breed. Have noticed some one 

 year as early as 22nd April. 



MARTIN, Chelidon urbica (L.) Occurs on migration in spring and 

 autumn, but does not breed. 



SAND MARTIN, Cotile riparia (L.) Passes on migration in limited 

 numbers like the two last, but does not breed. 



GREENFINCH, Ligurimis chloris (L.) Only two or three birds were 

 noticed on the island as occasional winter migrants until 

 October 1893, when large flocks arrived, as many as 100 

 being counted together, and these remained chiefly about 

 stackyards and gardens till the beginning of April 1894, when 

 they all left. 



HOUSE SPARROW, Passer domestiats, L. This species was not ob- 

 served on the island till 24th November 1893, when five birds- 

 three males and two females appeared in my garden. They 

 immediately took possession of an ivy tree on the porch as 

 a roosting-place, displacing the Tree Sparrows which used to 

 live there. They remained all winter, and some time in March 

 another hen suddenly appeared, but the three pairs left early in 

 May without nesting. 



TREE SPARROW, Passer montanus, L. Considerable numbers of this 

 species have been permanently reisdent on the island for a 

 great many years ; and I think there can be no doubt it was 

 this species, and not the preceding, that Macgillivray found on 

 the island when he wrote in 1837. They nest in the holes in 

 garden walls, chiefly at Eoligary and North Bay. 



CHAFFINCH, FringiUa culebs, L. Winter visitor, arriving in October 

 in considerable numbers, which seem to be increasing from 

 year to year, and leaving early in April, none as yet having 

 been known to breed. 



BRAMBLING, F. nwntifringilla, L. One was seen in January 1894, 

 the only record from the island. 



TWITE, Acanthi's flavirostris, L. Very abundant, breeding and per- 

 manently resident. 



