THE BIRDS OF NORTH UIST 17 



THE BIRDS OF NORTH UIST. 

 By Fred. S. Beveridge, Lieut. 3rd Bn. The Royal Scots. 



{Concluded from " The Scottish Natitmlist" 1918, page 254.) 



Cygniis mnsictis, Bech. \V'hooper Swan. Fairly common 

 winter visitor. Found on all suitable lochs on the island seldom 

 more than seven or eight birds are seen together. Often in company 

 with the Bewicks. 



Cygnus bewickii, Yar. Bewick's Swan. Common winter 

 visitor. Large flocks of a hundred or more are often observed 

 they seem most partial to salt water and are found in immense 

 flocks between Newton and Lochmaddy and at Loch Eport. 



Tadorna cornuta, Gmel. Sheldrake. (B.) Common, but a 

 decreasing resident. Throughout the winter they become compara- 

 tively scarce. 



Anas boscas, Linn. Mallard. (B.) Common resident species. 

 Scattered throughout the island never found in large flocks except 

 during hard winters. Their numbers are increased considerably 

 during the autumn migration. Sir Arthur Orde, Bart., so I am 

 informed, introduced the smaller foreign Mallard to the North Uist 

 group, turning down several birds at Langass and Newton. Several 

 specimens of the above have fallen to my own gun in these islands 

 the weight of these birds seldom exceeding i lb. 14 oz. 



Anas sfrepera^lAnu. Gadwall. Fairly common. An increasing 

 winter visitant. Mr M'Elfrish has obtained this species at Newton 

 and Loch Blashaval, but only seems to have observed single birds 

 or odd pairs. At Scolpaig and Griminish small flocks of between 

 twenty and thirty birds are not uncommon. Common at Balranald 

 in winter. My brother has observed paired birds during the summer. 



Spatula clypcata, Linn. Shoveller. (B.) Rare. Very local, 

 but there is an odd pair now nesting at Balranald Mr M'Elfrish has 

 found nests there of recent years. At Langass and Griminish a pair 

 are seen nearly every winter. 



Dafila acuta, Linn. Pintail. Fairly common, but very local. 

 A winter visitor, though odd pairs have been seen during the summer 

 months. Supposed to breed at Balranald, but I have never seen 

 nest or eggs from any part of North Uist. A young $ shot at 

 Vallay Island, 21st November 191 1, seems to have been bred 

 in the vicinity, but, as I have already stated, no further proof is 

 forthcoming. 



NettioH crecca, Linn. Teal. (B.) Common. Breeding 

 85 AND 86 C 



