A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE ISLAND OF BUTE 135 



is some reason to fear that their alternative nest has been 

 plundered. It is also to be desired that a systematic record 

 should be kept of such points as dates of arrival, of hatching, 

 and of departure. This could probably be done by arrange- 

 ment between the keeper and the tenant of the Loch 

 Cottage. 



[We cordially endorse Mr. Cash's appeal for greater 

 protection, and, may we add, respect for our Scottish 

 Ospreys. The position of this fine species as a native bird 

 is becoming precarious, for we are informed that this year 

 only one Osprey has appeared at the old-established haunt 

 in West Inverness-shire, and our latest information (May 26) 

 was that it remained mateless. EDS.] 



A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE ISLAND 



OF BUTE. 1 



By JOHN ROBERTSON. 



THE well-known Island of Bute is fifteen miles long, with 

 an average breadth of about four miles. The physical features 

 of the island are such as suit a large number of species of 

 birds. There are heather-clad hills in the north ; while in 

 the central and southern parts the land is well cultivated, 

 with here and there considerable woods and moorlands. Six 

 or seven fresh-water lochs, some of which are reed-girt, afford 

 admirable haunts for aquatic species ; and along the sea- 

 shore there are several muddy bays, the resort of various 

 species of waterfowl and waders. So far as I know, no 

 previous attempt at a complete list of the birds of the island 

 has been made, but Mr. William Evans contributed to the 

 "Annals" for July 1895 an excellent paper entitled "Orni- 

 thological Notes made in the Island of Bute in Midwinter." 

 Mr. Evans' notes, of which I have made free use in this 

 paper, refer to the winter of 1894-95. 



In Blain's " History of the Island of Bute," as well as 

 John Colquhoun's " Sporting Days," there are some notes 



1 Read before the Andersonian Naturalists' Society, Glasgow. 



