156 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



COMMON CORMORANT, Phalacrocorax carbo. Fairly common round 

 the coast, and sometimes to be seen on the lochs. 



SHAG, Phalacrocorax graculus. Very common, and breeds in the 

 caves at Kennavara Head. 



GANNET, Sula bassana. Fairly common round the coast, but does 

 not breed here. 



COMMON HERON, Ardea cinerea. Common all the year round, 

 although they do not breed. Frequents shallow lochs and 

 ditches, where it feeds on eels and sticklebacks. 



GRAYLAG GOOSE, Anser cinereus. Occurs now and again in winter, 

 but does not stay long. 



WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, Anser albifrons. Common, and numerous 

 from middle of October till the end of April. Arrives here 

 from the north-west in autumn, and takes a north-westerly 

 direction when leaving here in spring. 



BERNICLE GOOSE, Bernicla leucopsis. Occurs now and again in 

 small flocks of a dozen or so. 



BRENT GOOSE, Bernicla brenta. Occurs only during hard frosts, 

 and then but sparingly. 



WHOOPER SWAN, Cygnus musicus. Has increased enormously as a 

 winter visitor since I came to the island in 1886. At that 

 time only about a dozen or so could be seen at a time. I 

 counted several times during the last few winters nearly 200 of 

 this species on Loch-a-Phuil. 



BEWICK'S SWAN, Cygnus minor. A regular winter visitor, and 

 increasing in numbers every year. A flock of about 200 spent 

 some time on Island House Loch last winter. 



MUTE SWAN, Cygnus olor. I have seen a single straggler of this species 

 on Island House Loch. A Black Swan spent the most of the 

 summer of 1896 on Loch-a-Phuil. 



COMMON SHELDRAKE, Tadorna cornuta. Resident, and breeds. 



MALLARD, Anas boscas. Numerous, and resident all the year round. 

 Breeds on all parts of the island where it can find cover for its 

 nest. 



GADWALL, Anas strepcra. Very common. Arrives about the end 

 of harvest, and stays until late spring. Frequents the sea-coast 

 during the day-time, and flights in the evening to brackish 

 pools to feed. 



SHOVELLER, Spatula clypeata. Fairly common. A few pairs breed 

 on the island every summer. 



PINTAIL, Dafila acuta. Occurs sparingly on migration. 



