THE BIRDS OF NORTH UIST 19 



near Lochmaddy many years ago, recorded by the late Dr Harvie- 

 Brown. 



Columba livia, Gm. Rock-dove. (B.) Common resident. A 

 great many crosses between the true wild bird and tame pigeons 

 which have been kept from time to time at Paible and Claddach. 

 These birds are usually of a light sandy colour or of a darker hue 

 than the wild bird. Albinos are not uncommon. Rock-pigeons 

 seem to change their haunts very unaccountably : from the beginning 

 of the century till 1910 they were most plentiful on the western 

 coast, whilst after that date they changed to the vicinity of Newton 

 and Cheese Bay. I see no reason for this local migration, as the 

 tillage around their new abode is far scantier than on the west side. 

 On the other hand the invasion of Starlings may have been the 

 cause of this movement. 



Turtur communis^ Selby. Turtle-dove. One reported to have 

 been seen at Lochmaddy on 6th July 1912. 



Lagopus scoticus, Lath. Red Grouse. (B.) Fairly common 

 resident species. Owing to numbers of Hoodies and other vermin, 

 is slowly disappearing. 



Phasianus colchiciis, Linn. Pheasant. A few brace were 

 turned down by Sir Arthur Orde, but, as was expected, never throve 

 and very soon died out. 



\Coh(rnix commiaiis, Bonn. Quail. No authentic occurrence. 

 Recently supposed to have been observed at Varlish. On 8th May 

 191 7 Peel records the Quail from Barra, in which island it is not 

 infrequent.] 



Crex pratensis, Bech. Land-rail. (B.) Common summer 

 visitor, breeding freely, but fluctuates considerably. Have noticed 

 that this species is very ready to seek safety in flight in North 

 Uist. It does not seem to do so on the mainland of Scotland. 



Ralliis aqnaftci/s, Linn. Water-rail. (B.) Fairly common ; 

 resident in small numbers. 



Gallinula chloropus, Linn. Moorhen. (B.) A very common 

 resident species. 



Fnlica atra, Linn. Coot. (B.) Common, breeding in all 

 suitable localities. A steadily increasing species. 



^gialitis hiaticula, Linn. Ringed Plover. (B.). Common, 

 resident. Immense flocks to be seen on the strands which abound 

 in North Uist. Usually in company with the Sanderling and 

 Dunlin. 



[^giaittis curofika, Gm. Little Ringed Plover. A supposed 

 example was recorded from Vallay in 1909.] 



Charadrius pluvialis, Linn. Golden Plover. (B.) Common, 



