ON THE AVIFAUNA OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES 15 



WHIMBREL (Numenius phceopus), p. 136. A single bird of this 

 species stayed right on from the summer of 1889, continuously 

 through the seasons to 1893 (Dr. M'Rury, "Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist." 

 vol. ii. p. 1 1 6). This must surely have been a wounded bird, 

 although Dr. M'Rury seemed to be of the opinion that it was not. 



We have seen that the Whimbrel migrates to the west of the 

 Outer Hebrides ; also passes Rockall on migration north in June ; 

 and so it is not extraordinary to have it added to the list of birds 

 seen on St. Kilda by Mr. Norman Heathcote ("St. Kilda," by 

 Norman Heathcote, 1900). 



Speaking again of their general routes of migration along the 

 coasts of Scotland, I wish to say that there are several crossing- 

 places from east to west in both spring and autumn, such as by the 

 Spey valley, to a modified extent ; and regular and distinct from 

 Forth to Clyde in autumn by more than one route. Thus on the 

 west side of Loch Lomond they are often seen and shot during 

 grouse-driving in the early season (August 12 to 20, etc.), and many- 

 are seen on Clyde passing west at or near the point of Strone, which 

 is a direct continuation of their flight across, between Loch Lomond 

 and the Clyde at Helensburgh. There is little doubt also that a 

 few Whimbrels pass in spring up the west valley of the Pattock, and 

 so to Spey, as well as use that depression in autumn. 



COMMON TERN (Sterna fluviatilis], p. 141. While this bird has 

 not been absolutely discarded from the " Fauna of Outer Hebrides," 

 and indeed was fully admitted in the Appendix D, p. 225, even then 

 we were very chary of adding it to the species found breeding, 

 notwithstanding Dr. M'Rury's evidence. 



Since then there is the announced fact of this species nesting in 

 the island rock of Hysgeir, off Canna, by Mr. Howard Saunders. 

 Hysgeir is not one of the Outer Hebrides, but is so approximate to 

 them that it is reasonable to suppose that an extension might take 

 place at any time; and so in 1901 we find a note from Dr. M'Rury 

 to the effect that the Common Tern was identified by him at last 

 during the spring and summer of 1900 ("Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist/' 

 1900, p. 143). We have before said that we believe the Common 

 Tern to be an advancing species, and there has occurred some 

 evidence to prove that it is so. 1 



ARCTIC TERN (Sterna arctica\ p. 139. I do not find much to 

 add to the history of this species in the Outer Hebrides, unless to 

 make the remark that it would almost appear to be becoming a 

 dwindling quantity, though the process may not seem to be a rapid 

 one. The Common Tern, on the other hand, appears to afford 

 evidence that it is the " coming race " in the struggle for existence. 



1 It seems of sufficient interest to note the first authentic record of the nesting 

 of the Common Tern (in 1901) on one of the islands on the west coast of Shetland 

 ("Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist." for April 1902). 



