198 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



one or two of them together. They are extraordinarily shy birds and 

 remain well out on Loch a Phuil, where it is quite impossible to get 

 near them. I have never seen them got when flighting ducks in 

 the evenings, so that I do not think they flight out to bogs to feed 

 at night; nor have I seen them at sea nor about the creeks on the 

 sea-shore. 



Teal (Nettion creccd). This is a numerous and resident species, 

 and nests all over the island. They are considerably later than 

 the Mallard in nesting usually about the end of April and beginning 

 of May and they choose tufts of rushes and rough grass for their 

 nests, also patches of Iris, which have grown well up by that time. 

 They are gregarious, and single birds or pairs are seldom to be seen 

 except during the breeding season. They usually remain in small 

 flocks throughout the day on small salt pools among the rocks all 

 round the sea-shore, and flight inland to the bogs and pools in the 

 evening to feed. Wounded Teals are difficult birds to gather, as 

 they are excellent divers and can remain under water for a 

 considerable time. All ducks use their wings in diving and 

 travelling under water, and I have noticed that if the wing is broken 

 close to the body this handicaps them greatly and they cannot dive 

 far, or remain under water. The side with the broken wing always 

 comes up ; but when the wing is only tipped or broken near the first 

 joint, it is otherwise. 



Wigeon (Mareca penelope). This species is abundant during 

 autumn, winter, and spring. They begin to arrive some years as 

 early as the beginning of September, and remain on the Island more 

 or less until April. I have seen'an odd bird remain all summer ; but 

 I expect they were wounded birds that had been unable to leave. 

 Wigeon feed a good deal among the rotting seaweed in the creeks 

 and nooks on the sea-shore. They also flight out to the bogs at night 

 to feed. They are only fairly good for the table, some of them 

 having rather a strong taste from feeding on the sea-shore. 



Pochard {Fuligulaferind). The Pochards are fairly numerous 

 on Loch Vasapol and Island Loch, which lochs are weedy and 

 suit their taste. The bulk of them are winter visitors, but a few 

 remain all summer on Loch Vasapol, where a pair or two nested 

 some years ago on a small island. Unfortunately the native 

 propensity for taking eggs has been too much for them and they 

 do not nest there now. The birds themselves are not looked 

 upon with a great amount of favour, as their flesh is not very good 

 eating. They get their food by diving, and seem to live on some 



