SOME BIRD NOTES FROM SOUTH UIST 149 



The Kestrel. The Kestrel remains in South Uist all 

 the year round, depending chiefly for food on the land 

 Voles which are to be found all over the moors. Occasion- 

 ally the Kestrel will pick up a small Grouse, but it is no 

 match for the old cock Grouse when he is on the watch. 



The Cormorant. This bird is common in the Outer 

 Hebrides, nesting on the wild cliffs along the eastern sea- 

 board, sometimes it takes to fishing on the inland lochs, 

 and then is even more destructive than the Merganser, 

 owing to its great size and gluttonous nature. During one 

 winter, many years ago, I found many Cormorants dead or 

 unable to fly right up on the hills by the small streams, 

 and noticed a great scarcity for two or three years after. 

 This is the same with all kinds of birds according to my 

 observations ; as soon as any species gets exceedingly 

 numerous there is certain to be a reaction, though this has 

 perhaps been less noticed in other species than in the case 

 of Grouse. 



The Shag. The Shag is common along the sea coasts, 

 it seldom goes inland to fish on fresh-water lochs, but if 

 the water is brackish and connected with the sea it swims 

 in with the tide and out to sea with the ebb. Some years 

 it is extraordinarily numerous ; the natives sometimes eat 

 it, burying the bird for a few days before cooking it, but 

 even then it is not very palatable. 



The Gannet. Frequents the Hebrides all the year 

 round, and a great many dead birds are left on the shore 

 after a storm, presumably old birds, unable to weather the 

 terrible seas. The fishermen call the Gannet " the white 

 bird," and it is a great favourite with them, as it always 

 finds the herring shoals, helping them to set their nets in 

 the proper places. 



The Grey Lag Goose. This Goose is par excellence 

 the bird among wild-fowl, for size and quality and for the 

 excellent sport they afford. The wariness of the Grey Lag 

 baffles description and I know no bird whose sense of smell 

 is so keen except the Raven. South Uist is their favourite 

 breeding resort; their nesting places are on the small islets 

 on the wild moorland lochs, these being covered with long 



