igo THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



in one huge lot and one can never get more than two shots 

 at them. 



The Tufted Duck. The Tufted Duck frequented the 

 Hebrides in hundreds in the early eighties, then for a few 

 years got very scarce ; after a time they began to get more 

 numerous again and curiously enough began nesting in South 

 Uist. They make their nest on little grassy islands in quiet 

 corners and on the mainland near a pond under a bush or 

 long rushes. 



The Long-tailed Duck. Common on the Atlantic side 

 in winter but seldom or never found on the Minch ; after 

 a hurricane on the x'\tlantic, storm-driven birds are occasion- 

 ally found on the inland lochs. 



The Eider. The Eider is very common, often going a 

 considerable distance inland to nest, even to the moors 

 among the heather ; others nest in the long bent grass, not 

 far from the seashore. This species was very much on the 

 increase, more being seen every year. It is known in the 

 Hebrides by the name of " Heisker big duck," the belief being 

 that the first ducks came off a vessel wrecked on Heisker 

 long before the Monach lighthouse was built. 



The Common Scoter. Is very common on the Atlantic 

 coast, seldom or never coming inland. 



The Goosander. The Goosander is very rare in the 

 Outer Hebrides ; I never saw i-ts nest there, in fact it was 

 only seen on rare occasions. 



The Merganser. This duck is very numerous in the 

 Hebrides and may be classed as a true native, nesting all 

 over the islands. They lay from ten to twelve eggs and 

 their nest is often made under a peaty bank, something like 

 the Sheldrake, but as far as my observations went they did 

 not lay their eggs so far underground. The Merganser is 

 very destructive to fish of all kinds and under no conditions 

 should they be allowed to frequent valuable trout lochs or 

 streams. Sometimes towards the end of autumn, flocks 

 containing hundreds may be seen in the creeks and bays 

 of the Minch, and often frequent the trout lochs, where they 

 cause great havoc. 



Red-Necked PliALAROPE. This beautiful little bird 



