88 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



hissing or fuffing sound — only used when attacked, and uttered 

 evidently from the throat, as the mouth remains open. 



During the flood of 1877 one came on board the raft on which 

 we were floating bales to a small port in our neighbourhood, and 

 was not discovered till we arrived at our destination on the 

 following day. But, as a rule, the Yellow Opossum does not 

 show such cool assurance in its dealings with man as the allied 

 species. 



I have never yet been so fortunate as to find a nest of young 

 ones, and can only state, in regard to its breeding habits, that the 

 young are independent of the mother at a very early stage, some 

 I have taken being only the size of a small rat. This, then, must 

 remain a point for future notice. 



IV. — On the Mammalia of the Outer Hebrides. By Mr. John A. 

 Harvie-Brown, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U., Vice-President. 



Introduction. 



It is unnecessary for me to describe at any length the physical 

 geography of the Long Island, as that has frequently been done 

 before by authors, down from the date of Martin and the other 

 historians whose names and works I shall mention further on, and 

 to most of which latter I have referred during the preparation 

 of this paper. 



A short description, however, may not be considered out of place. 



The total length of the Outer Hebrides, from the Butt of Lewis 

 to Barra Head, is about 130 miles. The greater part of Lewis is 

 comparatively flat, and covered with lochs,* or rough, uneven 

 ground of no great altitude. 



Harris, on the other hand, is rugged and grand, especially the 

 northern half, where some of the mountains reach to altitudes of 

 over 2,500 feet. On the west coast of South Harris commences 

 the level, sandy-margined, pastoral country, which, with scarcely 

 any intermission, stretches southward to the south end of the Long 

 Island, interrupted only by the sounds, and the shallow fords, 

 which separate the various islands. 



North Uist presents to the eye the most curious division of land 

 and water, being exactly the counterpart of Harris. Looking 



* Martin tells us that from this fact the island receives its Gaelic name, 

 viz., Leog, meaning "ivatcr lying on the surface of the land." — "Description 

 of the "Western Isles," 2nd edition, 1716, p. 1. 



