ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES MADE IN ISLAND OF BUTE 139 



of the central parts, becomes decidedly fertile and more 

 lowland in aspect, much of it, especially on the west side, 

 being under cultivation and well farmed, thus supplying 

 the wants of large numbers of rooks, finches, buntings, 

 pigeons, and other gramnivorous birds. Extensive planta- 

 tions, both young and old, of pines, firs, and other trees, give 

 shelter to the woodland tribes ; while the numerous sedge 

 and reed-girt lochs, now full of the Canadian pond-weed 

 (Anacliaris Alsinastruvi), provide a perfect paradise in ordinary 

 seasons for Wigeon and other ducks. 



With the exception of those species which are, or are 

 supposed to be, injurious to game, birds seem to suffer 

 little persecution at the hands of the inhabitants. Although 

 I explored practically the whole of the forty or so miles of 

 coast-line, I did not meet a single person carrying a gun. 

 The vigilance of the gamekeepers has, however, reduced the 

 birds of prey to a minimum, and such a thing as a Jay or a 

 Magpie is now never seen. 



The winter temperature of Bute is stated to be about 

 13 warmer than the average for Scotland, and in ordinary 

 seasons its feathered inhabitants have little to fear from frost 

 and snow. During such an exceptionally severe storm, how- 

 ever, as that which prevailed throughout the country during 

 January and February last (up till the closing days of 

 December the winter, it may be noted, had been unusually 

 mild), any difference in the number of degrees of frost 

 registered in favour of the island could practically avail them 

 nothing. 1 With the lochs and marshes covered with thick 

 ice, and the ground rendered hard as iron for many con- 

 secutive weeks, their position in this respect could scarcely be 

 better than that of their neighbours ; consequently, as I am 

 informed by Mr. Bodin, Port Bannatyne, innumerable 

 " thrushes," blackbirds, snipe, woodcock, herons, waterhens, 

 coots, and even curlews, wigeon, etc., were found dead, or in 

 a dying state, before the storm came to an end. Lapwings, 

 which were in some numbers up to the time I left (middle 

 of January), remained, Mr. Bodin tells me, throughout the 



1 The frost was the keenest experienced in Bute for very many years. Before 

 I left, the thermometer frequently registered 10 of frost, and during February it 

 fell much lower, as many as 18" being registered at Rothesay on the loth. 



