THE BIRDS OF THE ISLAND OF TIREE 197 



had taken all the eggs, eight in number, out of the nest, and had 

 sat on them on the bare ground. The eggs were still wet, but they 

 were warm, and I found subsequently that she had hatched them 

 all out. The eggs of this bird are greatly sought after by the 

 natives for food. This Duck, while laying, covers her eggs with 

 grass, but the natives lift the eggs and put a couple of round stones 

 under the grass in their place. The bird will continue to lay to 

 the stones until she has laid all her eggs. These birds are very 

 fond of barley, and their numbers are greatly augmented about 

 the latter end of August and September by others from Mull and 

 other islands, which come to feed on the crofters' barley. On 

 patches of barley that are laid by wind they do a lot of damage, 

 and they also get on to the stooks and eat ravenously. It is quite 

 common to see four or five Ducks on the top of a barley stook like 

 so many Hens. Later, about the month of November, they feed 

 throughout the day on the potato fields, and about the end of April 

 they may be seen feeding on the fields where barley has been 

 newly sown. 



Gadwall {Anas streperd). These birds, although somewhat 

 rare in other parts of Scotland, are common enough here during 

 winter and spring. I rather think that some of them breed at no 

 creat distance, as I have seen a small flock of about a dozen birds 

 on the Faodhal as early as the latter end of August. Only two were 

 adults, the others were all young birds. Some Gadwall remain here 

 as late as April before leaving for their breeding-grounds. They are 

 night-feeders, and frequent the fresh-water lochs more or less, but a 

 great many of them shelter throughout the day on rocks and reefs 

 well out at sea, and flight into the bogs and pools in the evening to 

 feed. They are particularly fond of the lower end of the Faodhal, 

 where the water is brackish. 



Shoveler {Spatula clypeata). Shovelers have increased very 

 much in late years as a breeding species, and a great many of them 

 nest here now. They are somewhat later in nesting than the 

 Mallard, consequently they can get more cover to nest in. They 

 nest in patches of the yellow Iris, and in long grass and rough 

 herbage, always near water. A few remain all winter, but not 

 nearly so many as are bred here. They are entirely fresh-water 

 ducks while here, and I have not noticed them at any time about 

 the sea-shore. 



Pintail {Dafila acuta). The Pintail is not uncommon, but only 

 occurs in small numbers, and it is the exception to see more than 



