92 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



Vanishing Game Birds in Argyllshire. That veteran 

 naturalist, Mr Osgood H. Mackenzie, contributes an interesting paper 

 to the Scottish Naturalist for, February upon the "Vanishing Birds 

 of the West Coast of Ross-shire." I do not think he need be in 

 any doubt as to the principal cause of the decrease, although some 

 minor causes may have to be taken into account which may not be 

 easy to trace. I have been a frequent visitor to a fertile island off 

 the west coast of Argyllshire, which, besides agricultural and pastoral 

 land, has a few heathery hills suitable for Grouse. The population 

 has been gradually decreasing during the last hundred years. I 

 have been acquainted with this island and many of its inhabitants 

 for the last forty years. Time after time it has been stocked with 

 Grouse, Partridges, and a few Pheasants. In a very few years the 

 game birds introduced were either extinct or nearly so. I have 

 heard many a discussion upon these vanishing birds, and wonderful 

 theories propounded as to the cause. Neither the late proprietor 

 nor his gamekeeper was able to solve the question. They were 

 inclined to blame the climate, the soil that was very varied in 

 its character, and the vegetation that covered the land from the 

 seashore to the top of the highest hill. Yet they were somewhat 

 sceptical, if we may judge from their actions, as time and again 

 more stocks of game were brought to the island. The fact was, 

 that while they could not account for the disappearance of the game, 

 they were quick to observe that there was a decided increase to be 

 observed in the stock for one or two seasons after its first arrival. 

 Then the decline set in as before, and became more rapid as the 

 stock of birds decreased. 



The whole problem was interesting, and at first I was as much 

 puzzled as the rest. I was carrying on some scientific investigations 

 upon the island, and my work necessitated getting up at all hours of 

 the night in May and June. I had to walk along a road through 

 the hills for about five miles to my work. In the long summer 

 days it was hardly dark during any part of the twenty-four hours, so 

 it was easy to see objects some distance off. When I began these 

 early rambles I was surprised to find quite a number of the older 

 crofters, who were past casual work, wandering about the hills, and 

 I made attempts to get on more friendly terms with them. It was, 

 however, no easy task, as it was evident they wished to avoid me. 

 However, I managed to interview a few of them who happened to 

 be near the road, and seemed to be looking for something among 

 the heather. I knew some of the men slightly, so I approached 

 them with, " Good morning ! You are early astir. What brought 

 you out of your bed at this unearthly hour?" The invariable reply 



