ON THE AVIFAUNA OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES 87 



in St. Kilda, and published an account of the visit in the 

 "Zoologist" (August 1895). The most interesting result 

 was the finding of the Subalpine Warbler (Sylvia subalpina}, 

 and some recent notes upon the St. Kildian Wren. He also 

 tells us that the factor receives about 200 stones (24 Ibs. 

 to a St. Kildian stone) of feathers from these islands yearly ; 

 and it takes about 450 puffins to make a stone of feathers. 

 Mr. Steele-Elliott does not consider that there is any great 

 force of Manx Shearwaters on the islands of the group, but 

 he was only judging from the small numbers which he 

 himself had seen at night, and from the fact of the natives 

 only obtaining one egg during his visit. The most of these 

 birds are found upon Soa and Boreray, and the Dune- 

 islands most difficult of access from the main island, and 

 only visited on comparatively rare occasions. It seems a 

 great pity that so many of the Fork-tailed Petrels are taken 

 along with the eggs, owing to the long-sighted policy of 

 greedy collectors, and the short-sightedness and greediness 

 of the natives, sorely tempted as they are. 



Since Dr. M'Rury left Barra, Mr. W. L. MacGillivray 

 kept some notes made upon the migratory birds he observed 

 there in August and September 1901, and has sent these 

 to me, along with notes of specimens in his collection which 

 are not included in the records of our " Annals." 



In 1895 the late Mr. J. Young made a hurried run across 

 Skye to Dunvegan. Mr. Young obtained, amongst other 

 information, the items regarding the practice of the natives 

 with regard to their work among the rocks when obtaining 

 feathers and food, partly to pay rents in kind, and partly to 

 supply their own requirements. The St. Kildians divide their 

 shares of the rents, etc., into sixteen shares as follows. 



Each share represents the following numbers of birds : 



Totals. 

 So Gannets (young) . 1280 ) 



/ i 1 \ ^ " T i 2 O O 



120 (old) . . 1920 ( * 



560 Fulmars . . 8,960 



120 Guillemots . . 1,920 



50 Razorbills . . 800 



600 Puffins . . . 9,600 



Total birds . 24,480 



