THE BIRDS OF NORTH UIST 247 



swept shrubs that strive to exist are invariably near human 

 dwellings, and at such places rest may be found for weary 

 migrants in full view of habitation. The presence of winged 

 vermin, in formidable numbers, affords little respite to 

 residents. The Greater and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 

 and, needless to say, the Hoodie Crows, take heavy toll 

 of Grouse (the only resident example of the Gallinae) and 

 the various species of duck during the nesting season. 

 While, thanks to the common brown rat and to man's 

 interference, the graceful Red-necked Phalarope will soon 

 have disappeared as a breeding species. 



The inhabitants of North Uist, when you know them, are 

 a most agreeable people, and they have helped me in every 

 possible way by observing new arrivals or rarities. I find 

 but one fault of any magnitude, and that is a great passion for 

 collecting birds' eggs during the nesting season. During the 

 early summer their women-folk scour the foreshore in veri- 

 table hosts they seem countless ; red skirts, red shawls, 

 searching to and fro among the seaweed for shellfish. 

 But they don't leave it there, that is the beginning only 

 not the end. They wander farther and farther afield, 

 to return at dusk laden, not with cockles, but with hundreds 

 of wild birds' eggs. No wonder that this trait does not 

 appeal to one, but rather kindles in the onlooker the same 

 spirit as that shown by our bovine friend at the sight of the 

 proverbial red rag. But the Black-headed Gull, for instance, 

 can nest in peace ; the unfortunate crofter never harries her 

 nest ; in fact, the Hebridean seems to possess an antipathy 

 for gulls' eggs give him ducks' eggs or plovers' eggs and 

 he's as happy as the day is long. With regard to climatic 

 conditions, North Uist may be regarded on the whole as 

 possessing a very mild and warm summer, but a harsh 

 winter, though I may add that severe cold resulting in much 

 frost or snow is exceptional. During the equinox very 

 heavy gales are experienced. The south-west and west winds 

 are prevalent throughout the year, though from December 

 till the middle of March violent storms often blow from the 

 north-east. The following list shows a total of 147 species 

 as having occurred in North Uist, in addition to which 



