ON THE AVIFAUNA OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES 207 



over 200 Hoopers on one loch, a well-known haunt. Between 80 

 and 100 was the largest number I had ever seen there on any 

 previous occasion. In 1899 we had a single Black Swan, and eight 

 of what I took to be Bewicks, nearly all summer rather a rare 

 occurrence." "And," he adds, "of course the Black Swan did 

 not make any company with the white ones." 



Of the increase of true Wild Swans there cannot be the slightest 

 doubt, not only at old frequented localities, but also at many new 

 ones. But Mute Swans were introduced to the Outer Hebrides at 

 Rodel in Harris, and at Balelone in North Uist, and have been breed- 

 ing at these localities for years. This ought to be remembered by 

 all who send in records of " Swans " remaining through all, or very 

 late into, the summer. 



Wild Swans very rarely alight in Barra. Two young Mute 

 Swans have been introduced into Barra from North Uist. This was 

 in 1893. 



Two adult and one young Bewick Swans were shot in North 

 Uist in February 1896, and are recorded as an addition to the Birds 

 of that island, by the late Sir John Campbell Orde (" Ann. Scot. 

 Nat. Hist." 1896, p. 191). 



Mr. C. V. A. Peel, writing to me in November 1901, says 

 that all the Wild Swans he has seen or shot in North Uist and 

 Benbecula were most probably Bewicks. He has seen hundreds, 

 and shot four, all the latter having the Bewick's beak-markings, and 

 none weighing more than 14^ Ibs., whereas a Hooper weighs 

 2 2 Ibs. The keepers are of the opinion that far the greater part 

 of these Outer Hebrides Swans belong to the smaller race, or 

 Bewick's Swan. 



My South Uist correspondent sends the information that " a 

 single Bewick's Swan is on a loch close to here, and has been here 

 all the summer (in lit. August 22, 1902). There were eight on the 

 loch most of the summer, but they all left. The single bird seems 

 quite tame. Sir Reginald Cathcart and I got within fifty yards of 

 it, so there could be no mistake about its being a Bewick's. Per- 

 haps it may be a disabled bird, as I have never seen it on the 

 wing." 



WILD DUCK (Anas boschas), p. 102. In November 1901, Mr. 

 M'Elfrish wrote me under this species : " Wild Duck quite common, 

 and breeding regularly. One season I assisted in the shooting of 

 150 in a fortnight shooting alternate days and in some of the 

 islands this could be far exceeded " ; but common Wild Duck are 

 distinctly rarer to the north of the Sound of Harris. Nowhere in 

 the Long Island is the natural feeding so abundant for them as 

 it is south of the Sound of Harris. 



Mr. M'Elfrish shot a Wild Duck in North Uist on January 

 13, 1902, and sent me the feet, which are reproduced here 



