THE BIRDS OF THE ISLAND OF TIREE 171 



able to take care of themselves, they drive them away, and only the 

 old pair remain. 



Carrion-Crow (Corvus coroni). I now and again see a pair of 

 these birds, but they don't breed here, and seldom make a long stay 

 on the island. 



Hooded Crow (Corvus comix). Very common, but are much 

 more numerous in winter and spring than they are in summer. They 

 breed on rocks on different parts of the coast. During winter, they 

 feed mostly along the sea-shore on shell-fish and on dead fish, or 

 any other carrion that is cast up by the storms. They are the worst 

 of vermin, and during the summer they take the eggs and young of 

 all other birds. They also steal the fowls' eggs from close beside 

 the houses. The Hoodie is a 'cute bird. I have seen them carry 

 shell-fish high up in the air and drop them on the rocks to try and 

 break the shell, so that they could get at the mollusc inside. If it 

 did not break the first time they would take it up higher, several 

 times if necessary, until they fractured the shell. 



Rook {Corvus frugilegus). Small flocks of Rooks come over from 

 Mull nearly every year about the month of March, and sometimes 

 stay a week or so. As there are no trees on the island for them 

 to roost on, I daresay they feel rather uncomfortable while here. A 

 few generally pass on migration about the beginning of November. 



Skylark (Alauda arvensis). -This is an abundant and resident 

 species, and breeds all over the island. They gather in enormous 

 flocks in autumn and winter on the stubbles, and I notice that they 

 are more partial to oat than they are to rye or barley stubble. They 

 must be migratory, but I have never noticed the migration the 

 numbers here remaining always about the same. The Common 

 Gulls destroy a lot of young Skylarks in summer. They quarter over 

 the hayfields like setters, and when they observe a nest with young 

 Larks they drop down, and swallow the fledglings whole. 



Swift {Cypselus apis). The Swift is only an occasional visitor 

 to the island, and I have only seen single birds, mostly about the 

 cliffs at Kenna Vara. 



Cuckoo {Cuculus canorus). This bird occurs sparingly every 

 summer, generally about the month of June, but only makes a very 

 short stay on the island. Probably there is not much suitable food 

 for them here. The winds are strong, and there is no shelter in the 

 shape of woods. 



