144 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



LINNET, L. cannabina, L. Three birds two males and a female- 

 were got at Eoligary in May 1894. This is the first record of 

 the species. 



CORN BUNTING, Emberiza miliaria, L. Abundant, breeding and 

 permanently resident. 



REED BUNTING, Emberiza schxnulus, L. Fairly plentiful in autumn 

 and winter, and a few breed. They were more abundant than 

 usual in winter of 1893. 



SNOW BUNTING, Plectrophenax nivalis (L.) Small flocks visit us on 

 migration in spring and autumn, but remain only for a few 

 days. 



SKYLARK, Alauda arvensis, L. Fairly plentiful, breeding and resi- 

 dent. Considerable numbers pass on migration in the autumn, 

 all apparently going south. 



STARLING, Sturnus rulgaris, L. Very abundant, breeding and 

 resident, roosting at night in the rocky caves. One of the 

 Eoligary shepherds told me that he once saw a pair of starlings 

 take possession of a hole in which a Shelduck had just built 

 her nest and laid a few eggs. There was a short but sharp 

 engagement, in which, as has sometimes happened among 

 "the lords of the creation," the dusky warriors came off 

 victorious the red-coats beating an ignominious retreat. 



The powers of mimicry of the Starling are well known, but 

 I think those of one particular bird which is in the habit of 

 performing in my garden are worth recording. The first thing 

 that attracted my attention was its imitating the neighing of a 

 foal so perfectly that it several times completely deceived me. 

 Then I watched it, and was astonished at the number of birds 

 it could mimic. Among these I may mention the Curlew (to 

 perfection), the Golden Plover and Lapwing, the different kinds 

 of Gulls, and especially the plaintive cry of their young, the 

 Eider Duck, the notes of the Great Northern Diver, and a fair 

 imitation of the Song Thrush, etc., not to speak of its clear, 

 sharp whistle, of which any schoolboy might well be proud. 



JACKDAW, Corrus moncdula, L. --Three birds were noticed in 

 October 1893 along with a large flock of Rooks. They re- 

 mained on the island for a good part of the winter. Then 

 again, on iyth April 1894, a flock of eight birds were seen at 

 Eoligary, but after a few hours' stay they flew across the Minch. 

 With the exception of a bird or two seen a good many years 

 ago, these are the only records of the occurrence of the Jack- 

 daw in Barra. 



RAVEN, Corrus corax, L. Comparatively numerous all the year, 

 breeding in the high cliffs. On 22nd March 1893 I got a 

 nest with six eggs. 



