A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE ISLAND OF BUTE 139 



SNOW BUNTING (Plectrophenax nivalis). Mr. Evans saw this 

 bird in flocks in January 1895. 



STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris). Abundant. 



JAY (Garruhis glandarius). Mentioned by Blain, but now 

 unknown. 



MAGPIE (Pica rustica). John Colquhoun says in "Sporting 

 Days," " The number of Magpies was so prodigious in North Bute 

 that I often wonder how any lowland winged game had been reared 

 at all." In one season he destroyed eighteen pairs with their nests 

 and eggs, or young. It must be borne in mind that North Bute 

 comprises little more than a third of the island, so that the number 

 of Magpies inhabiting Bute at one time must have been very great. 

 Nowadays the bird is never seen. 



JACKDAW (Corvus monedula). Common. 



RAVEN (C. corax). Mr. Evans identified the Raven on two 

 occasions in January 1895. 



CARRION CROW (C. corone). Numerous in the less frequented 

 parts of the island. 



HOODED CROW (C. comix). Less numerous in summer than 

 the former, but I have seen a fair number in the beginning of 

 April. 



ROOK ( C. frugilegus). Common. I have the head of a fawn- 

 coloured example, which was brought to Mr. Bodin, Port Bannatyne. 

 It is evidently the head of a young bird, as the base of the bill is 

 feathered. 



SKY LARK (Alauda arvensis). Common. 



SWIFT (Cypselus apus). Common about Rothesay and neighbour- 

 hood. Mr. Robert Wilson saw one bird on yth September 1900, 

 a late date. 



NIGHTJAR (Caprinnilgus eiiropccus). Frequent on the rougher 

 parts of the island, such as near Kilchattan Bay, at Loch Quien 

 and Loch Fad, and along the side of the Kyles. Mr. John 

 Torrance heard it at Loch Fad on 23rd April 1900, a very early 

 date. 



KINGFISHER (Alcedo ispida). Is rarely seen. 



CUCKOO (Cuculus canorus). Common. 



BARN OWL (Strix flammea) ; LONG-EARED OWL (Asia otiis] ; 

 SHORT-EARED OWL (A. accipitrinus) ; TAWNY OWL (Syrnium aluco). 

 These four species of Owl have all occurred on the island, but 

 they are evidently not common. The Barn, the Short-eared, and 

 the Long-eared Owls are mentioned by John Colquhoun as Bute 

 birds. 



