OBSERVATIONS ON THE BIRDS OF TIREE AND COLL 207 



myself among the only furze bushes on the island. Of course 

 the avifauna of the two islands is so nearly identical that it 

 is only necessary to mention the slight differences, and need- 

 less to repeat a full list. Probably, as regards Coll, except 

 with the Passerine birds, the differences are the result of 

 want of continuous observation. 



The islands are only two and a half miles apart, with 

 the islet of Gunna intervening, Coll being favoured with 

 much broken and undulating ground ; in many situations 

 bracken, furze, heather, etc., grow luxuriantly, especially the 

 ling in the peaty districts. 



The flora is, therefore, richer. A most conspicuous plant 

 is Geranium sanguineum, which grows in splendid masses 

 near Breachacha. An introduced plant, Spirea salicifolia, is 

 found also near Breachacha. In bare, wind-swept Tiree 

 there is little or no covert : all plants are so stunted by 

 the wind that even the ling is rarely more than two inches 

 long, and seldom flowers. As regards bird-life, the island is 

 further handicapped by the greatly congested population : 

 the too numerous crofters and cotters mostly keep semi- 

 wild dogs and a cat or two, while their half-starved cattle 

 eat all the scanty vegetation quite bare, even the flags of 

 the yellow iris. 



The people are also systematic egg-hunters : scarcely an 

 egg of any size can escape them, unless on an inaccessible 

 island or rock ; and " the men of the wild Tiree " also harry 

 eggs on the coasts of Coll and other islands, much to the 

 detriment of the Eider Ducks, whose nests are usually close 

 to the sea. 



In addition to the differences given below, are one or 

 two others easily accounted for, e.g. the Bernicle Goose 

 (Bernida leucopsis} is so abundant at -times in Coll as to 

 cause serious damage to the rich pastures ; whilst in Tiree, 

 from comparative absence of food, this goose is seldom seen. 

 On the other hand, the White-fronted Goose (Anscr albifrons] 

 is much more numerous in Tiree than in Coll, because of 

 the greater quantity of shoreweed (Littordla lacustris], water- 

 cress, and other aquatic plants, on which they chiefly feed. 

 The Cuckoo is not often seen in Tiree, but in Coll this bird 

 is apparently more numerous than in any country I have 



