NOTES ON BIRDS SEEN IN THE OUTER HEBRIDES 17 



which had recently been reported in these pages as breeding 

 in the Outer Hebrides, and at the same time to obtain some 

 photographs of birds and their nests. We were exception- 

 ally fortunate, and Bahr obtained some splendid photographs 

 of old birds on their nests and with their young. To the 

 different proprietors we wish to acknowledge our thanks for 

 their kindness in giving us permission to visit the various 

 islands, and we are also indebted to their keepers, who 

 afforded us great assistance. 



Among the birds given in the following list, the Coal 

 Titmouse, Spotted Flycatcher, and Crane are new to the 

 Outer Hebrides ; and the Missel-Thrush and Golden-crested 

 Wren have not been recorded before during the breeding 

 season. The Heron also is an addition to the list of breed- 

 ing species. By finding the nests of the Shoveller, Scaup, 

 and Tufted Duck we were able to confirm the previous 

 record in the " Annals " of these species breeding in the 

 Outer Hebrides. 



MISSEL-THRUSH, Turdus viscivorus, Linnaeus. The breeding of this 

 species may now be regarded as established. I saw a Missel- 

 Thrush in the Castle grounds at Stornoway on and July, and 

 a few days later, on the yth, I came across three, two old ones 

 and a young one, which had evidently been bred in the 

 district. In all probability the pair of birds seen in the Castle 

 grounds by Dr. Mackenzie on 26th April 1902 ("Annals," 

 1902, p. 138) bred there, and were not just passing migrants, 

 as suggested by Mr. Harvie- Brown. The woods round the 

 Castle are of considerable extent, and it is not always easy to 

 find the Missel-Thrushes, so that may account for Mr. Harvie- 

 Brown not seeing the birds during his visit. 



SONG THRUSH, Turdus musicus, Linnaeus. We found the Song 

 Thrush fairly plentiful in all the islands, but their chief strong- 

 hold is in the woods round Stornoway. It is found at a 

 considerable height on the bleak hillsides, and I saw one 

 singing on Eval, in North Uist, at about 800 feet, and another 

 on the Cleisham in Harris at 600 feet. We were much struck 

 by the dark colour of all the Song Thrushes we saw in Barra 

 and the Uists. Near Stornoway I saw both light and dark 

 examples, but I am not sure that the former were not young 

 birds. 



BLACKBIRD, Turdus merula, Linnaeus. In Barra we saw a single 

 male at North Bay and another in a small plantation on the 

 61 C 



