THE BIRDS OF THE ISLAND OF BARRA 145 



HOODED CROW, Corvus comix, L. Very abundant at all times. 

 When it has exhausted eggs, chicks, and such palatable food, it 

 has recourse to shellfish, breaking the harder shells by flying up 

 in the air with them and letting them fall on a convenient rock. 

 The usual number of eggs is four, but I have got six in nest. 



ROOK, Corvus frugilegus, L. Every winter a small flock visits the 

 island, but in October 1893 very large flocks arrived and re- 

 mained till the spring. A few stragglers are seen in the sum- 

 mer, but it has not been known to breed on the island. 



SWIFT, Cypselus apus (L.) I have noticed one or two birds nearly 

 every summer since I came to the island, but they are far from 

 common. 



KINGFISHER, Alccdo ispida, L. On 25th July 1892 I saw a King- 

 fisher in a small plantation, through which runs a shallow 

 stream, near my house. I watched the bright little stranger 

 for about a week, after which he disappeared. I never saw 

 any of the species in any other part of the Outer Hebrides. 



CUCKOO, Cuculus canorus, L. Very common. Arriving about 

 the ist of May, and leaving early in September. 



SHORT-EARED OWL, Asia accipitrinus, Pallas. Fairly common, 

 especially in the autumn and winter ; but a few breed, as the 

 nest has been found more than once. 



SNOWY OWL, Nyctea scandiaca (L.) One bird is said to have been 

 shot in the island of Mingalay in 1887. Mr. William 

 Macgillivray tells me that he saw a Snowy Owl at Eoligary, he 

 thinks, in this same year, so that it was probably the same 

 bird. There is no other record of its occurrence in Barra. 



HEN-HARRIER, Circus cyaneus, L. A few pairs seen all the year 

 round, breeds on the southern islands. 



GOLDEN EAGLE, Aquila chrysactits, L. Very seldom seen now, 

 although formerly it no doubt bred on the island. 



WHITE-TAILED EAGLE, Haliatus albicilla (L.) This species bred 

 in the southern islands of Barra some twenty-five years ago, 

 but not since, and, like the preceding, is seldom seen hovering 

 about now. Mr. Murdo Macgillivray shot one some years 

 ago, and it is in their collection at Eoligary ; and he tells me 

 that they kept one as a pet for many years, which was taken 

 out of an eyrie in the southern islands. This bird used to 

 fly some distance away from the house, picking up rabbits and 

 birds, until one day it was shot by a stranger who was ignorant 

 of its being a tame bird. He is not quite sure whether this 

 bird was a White-tailed or a Golden Eagle, but is inclined to 

 think it was the latter. 



(To be continued.} 

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