246 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



The first impression one gains of North Uist is un- 

 doubtedly that of a treeless waste half peat, half water; 

 but no happier "hunting-ground" for the naturalist exists 

 within the precincts of the British Isles. In extent, North 

 Uist averages roughly twelve miles from north to south 

 and fourteen miles from east to west. The eastern coastline 

 is rocky and, in places, precipitous, being flanked by a 

 considerable range of hills consisting of North Lee, South 

 Lee, and Eaval (i 138 ft., the loftiest peak in the island), 

 all running due south from Lochmaddy Bay. Due west 

 of Lochmaddy township itself, stretches a ridge of iow 

 heather-clad hills consisting of Blashaval, Skealtraval, 

 Marrogh, Marrival (757 ft.), Ben Risary, and Clettraval. To 

 the north and to the south of this range the ground slopes 

 gradually seaward, becoming more and more fertile, as may 

 be noted by the farms, crofts, and villages dotting the land- 

 scape. The coast-line here and to the west is less precipitous, 

 though rugged and rock-strewn; miles of sand dunes, bent- 

 covered, battered and broken in that endless game played 

 with land's most tenacious enemy, the sea. Here, as the 

 tide recedes, large stretches of hard sand may be observed 

 linking together the smaller isles and the main island. 

 These great " flats " or " fords " harbour countless waders 

 and shore birds Curlew and Godwits, Ringed Plover and 

 Sanderlings, following the ebb with their shrill hungry little 

 whistles, scurrying to and fro like countless ants slaving and 

 jostling each other for their daily bread. But the absence of 

 ooze and Zostera weed presents a great drawback ; the Brent 

 Goose, the Wigeon, and other fowl seldom remain with us 

 for long in notable quantity, unless the weather be of the 

 severest type. The innumerable lochans throughout North 

 Uist are the home of many of the Anatidae, though, save in 

 the hardest winters, ducks are rarely seen together in large 

 flocks, but remain scattered wherever open water may be 

 found. 



Owing to the lack of trees, already mentioned, the 

 Passeres are but sparsely represented. This want of vegeta- 

 tion, though inhospitable to our smaller birds, tends to make 

 observation a great deal easier. The few stunted and wind- 



