NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS ON BIRDS OF NORTH UIST 131 



The following is a summary of the birds observed and 

 their probable status in North Uist : 



The eggs and breeding stations of the Black-throated 

 Diver are seldom actually seen by anyone ; the nest of the 

 Hen Harrier was a lucky find, as these birds are now 

 becoming rare in the British Islands. The Greater Black- 

 backed Gull will undoubtedly be driven away from its 

 former breeding haunts owing to its merciless persecution 

 as "vermin"; it has a partiality for eggs, and chickens are 

 often stolen by it from the very back-doors of the crofters' 

 houses. The Arctic Skua is seldom seen on its breeding 

 grounds, and a few pairs seem to visit North Uist. I saw, 

 in all, only three pairs of this bird. Grey Lag Geese are 

 likely to increase in number ; as their breeding haunts are 

 not often invaded they were very numerous. Common 

 Gulls are particularly numerous in Uist, but their eggs are 

 much taken for eating. I much wanted to see Phalaropes, 

 but unfortunately they had not arrived up to the time I 

 left ; they undoubtedly breed in Uist in small colonies. 

 Hoodie Crows are relentlessly destroyed with the " Big Black 

 Gulls " and are likely to decrease. Short-eared Owls breed 

 near the loch side, I was told, but I only observed one 

 once ; while Red-throated Divers have a good footing, and, 

 breeding so far from the haunts of man and in such desolate 

 wastes, are likely to increase unfortunately their eggs are 

 looked on as worth something and consequently sought after. 

 Twites were very numerous, and Common Wrens common 

 in the heather ; of Merlins I only saw two pairs, Whimbrels, 

 two not together, a Wood-warbler was seen and heard, 

 probably its first observed occurrence in the Outer Hebrides. 

 Herring-gulls were numerous, breeding in colonies, and a 

 few Lesser Black-backed Gulls, while Black-headed Gulls 

 also breed. Merganser and Sheldrake do not occur very 

 commonly, though I observed three or four pairs of each ; 

 they both breed. Foxes, Hares, Stoats, and Weasels seem 

 to be utterly unknown on the island this is very strange. 

 Peregrines and White-tailed Eagles are said to breed 

 annually though I saw neither ; Kestrels are very scarce, 

 Little Grebes are numerous, and so I was told are Coots ; 



