290 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



proved by dissection, distinctly showing this to be the case. 

 Further, birds not yet having completely lost their immature or 

 their winter plumage have been found sitting on eggs, on islands 

 off the west coast of Sutherlandshire. — J. A. H.-B.] 



HOODED CROW. Corvus comix, Lin. 



" The late Duncan Sinclair told me that one day as he was 

 " taking eggs from the birds, he observed a solitary bird on a 

 " small cliff by itself — a Guillemot. He saw a Crow alight near 

 " the bird, always eyeing the egg. The Guillemot defended it for 

 " a while, till at last the Crow pounced in upon her. A struggle 

 " ensued, and both took a firm grip of each other. The Guillemot 

 " got the Crow off the ledge, and fled to the sea with him, and 

 " diving beneath the surface, reappeared and returned to her ledge, 

 " leaving the black enemy to perish. 



PEREGRINE FALCON. Falco peregrinus, Tunstall. 



" There is a pair of fine Falcons that hatch near the lighthouse 

 " every year. It appears that these birds are much prized 

 " Peregrines. I saw in Martin's Book on the Western Isles that 

 " the brood of this pair was all that was asked from the natives 

 " as yearly rent for the whole island." 



[Martin says [Western Islands, p. 100], " He holds his lands 

 in vassalage of Sir Donald Macdonald of Slate, to whom he pays 

 £40 per annum and a Hawk, if required." J. A. H.-B.j 



" There are no Falcons on Mingalay, nor others upon Berneray, 

 " except the pair which breed near the lighthouse. I have seen a 

 " visitor sometimes, but it was soon beat off by the hereditary 

 " occupants." 



[Captain Feilden and I saw one at the back of Mingalay, but 

 pretty far out at sea. This was probably one of the pair above 

 spoken of. J. A. H.-B.] 



BERNICLE GOOSE. Bernicla leucopsis (Bechstein). 



" A great many Bernicle Geese frequent the island of Berneray 

 " in winter, but not many Greylag Geese." 



PURPLE SANDPIPER. Tringa striata, Lin. 



[In 1870, on the day we left Barra Head, Captain Feilden and I 

 observed specimens of the Purple Sandpiper, and Captain F. shot 



