{Authors are responsible for nomenclature used,) 



;.>i L i ? 



The Scottish Naturalist 



Nos. 93 AND 94.] 1919 [Sept.-Oct. 



SOME BIRD NOTES FROM SOUTH UIST. 

 By Donald Guthrie. 



As I was keeper on South Uist for twenty-two years, from 

 18S3 to 1905, and took a great interest in birds while I was 

 there, I think some of my notes may interest the readers of 

 TJie Scottish Naturalist. South Uist is about 18 miles lone 

 by 6 wide ; roughly speaking there are close on 300 lochs 

 large and small, as well as many marshes, which make an 

 ideal home for water-fowl and waders. Many of the lochs 

 have ruins of ancient dwellings, some in a good state of 

 preservation, others under water but plainly visible on a 

 clear day, and the zigzag pathway of large stones can easily 

 be seen ; the same applies to the marshes. There are large 

 mounds on the Atlantic sea-board which were also inhabited, 

 and the shells are still to be seen lying about on which the 

 people lived. I knew a very strange underground dwelling 

 on a lonely moor, with an artificial tunnel or drain built 

 of flags leading into it; in this case also a great many 

 shells were to be seen. The land in South Uist is, on the 

 whole, of very poor quality, but the Atlantic sea-board, after 

 getting a liberal coating of seaweed every year, grows 

 wonderfully fine barley, rye, and black oats, also first-rate 

 potatoes when the proper seed is used. 



The following notes are from observations made during 

 my stay on the island : 



The Raven. The Raven is truly a native of the 

 93 AND 94 Q 



. 



