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LIBRARY : 



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The Scottish Naturalist 



No. 21.] 1913 [September 



THE BIRDS OF THE ISLAND OF TIREE. 



By Peter Anderson. 



(Continued from page 172.) 



Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo). This bird is fairly common 

 round the coast, but does not breed here that I know of. Of late 

 years they have been frequenting the fresh-water lochs a good deal 

 and poaching the Trout ; more especially Loch a Phuil, which is rather 

 shallow, and has a clean sandy bottom ; consequently they can catch 

 their prey easier than in a weedy loch. 



Shag {Phalacrocorax graculus). Shags are abundant round the 

 coast all the year round, and a few nest in the caves and gullies at 

 Kenna Varra. They rest on outlying rocks, and stand there until 

 they have digested their food. They are shot, and used as food by 

 the natives. I have not noticed the Shag on the fresh-water 

 lochs. 



Gannet (Sula bassana). These birds are often to be seen 

 fishing, just off the coast. Young birds, which are very dark coloured, 

 are usually fishing along with the old ones in the late autumn. 



Common Heron (Ardea cinered). Herons are present more or 

 less throughout the year, but they are more numerous in winter than 

 in summer. I see them occasionally fishing in shallow pools left by 

 the tide, among the rocks about the sea-shore, but they seem to be 

 fonder of fresh-water tarns and shallow pools, where they get small 

 Eels and Sticklebacks. Although there are generally a good many 

 Herons throughout the summer, they do not breed here. On 

 very stormy days they crouch for shelter close behind old walls. 

 They cannot stand extreme cold. 



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