ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES MADE IN ISLAND OF BUTE 145 



PHALACROCORAX CARBO (Z.) and P. GRACULUS (Z.). All along 

 the coast, more especially on the west side, Cormorants were common, 

 and during the open weather one or two were daily to be seen on 

 the freshwater lochs. The Shag was also indentified on the coast, 

 but seemed to be far from common only one came into Mr. 

 Bodin's hands for preservation in the course of the winter, while he 

 had several of the larger species sent him. 



ARDEA CINEREA, L. The Heron was frequently observed, chiefly 

 on the west coast. There used to be two heronries in high trees at 

 Mount Stuart, but now, as I am informed by the keeper, not more 

 than five or six pairs breed in the policies. In North Bute, how- 

 ever, I understand a goodly number nest in a thicket of quite low 

 trees. 



TADORNA CORNUTA (S. G. Gtne!.}. On three separate occasions 



namely at Stravanan Bay on gth January, at Scalpsie Bay on the 



loth, and at St. Ninian's Bay on the nth I had excellent views 



of a pair of Shelducks which might be the same birds, though 



I hardly think so. 



ANAS BOSCAS, Z., and QUERQUEDULA CRECCA (Z.). Wild Duck 

 and Teal were fairly numerous on the lochs during the open weather, 

 and after the frost set in they at any rate the first named were to 

 be seen in much greater numbers on all suitable parts of the western 

 coast-line. On 5th January a pure white Wild Duck was noticed at 

 Loch Quien. 



MARECA PENELOPE (Z.). During December and the early part 

 of January the lochs (Fad, Ascog, Greenan, and Quien) were literally 

 alive with Wigeon, whose actions on the water and in the air were a 

 continual source of pleasure to the eye, while the soft whistle of the 

 drakes was not less pleasing to the ear. The Canadian pond-weed 

 (Anacharis Alsinastruui) has become very abundant in these lochs, and 

 upon it the Wigeon are supposed to feed. Not being divers, they 

 probably can only obtain the weed for themselves in shallow water ; 

 and when this was not convenient I noticed that they attended 

 closely on the Coots and eagerly seized on a portion of what these 

 birds brought to the surface. After the frost had fairly set in they 

 were of course only to be met with on the coast, where large numbers 

 were daily seen among the rocks and stones at low tide, or resting 

 on the water a short distance off shore. 



FULIGULA FERINA (Z.), F. CRISTATA (LeacJl), and F. MARILA (Z.). 



A Pochard or two were observed on Loch Fad, but their chief 

 haunt was the reedy Loch Quien. There too the Tufted Ducks l 

 assembled to the number of about forty, till the frost drove them to 

 the sea. Loch Quien is a great haunt of wild-fowl : on 5th January 



1 The "Danes" of Blain's M.S. list were probably Tufted Ducks. 



