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{Authors are responsible for nom enclature, used.^ * ^^ V 



LIBRARY 



The Scottish Naturalif * ^ 



Na 22 -l 1913 [October 



THE BIRDS OF THE ISLAND OF TIREE. 



By Peter Anderson. 



(Continued from page 200.) 



Pallas's Sand-Grouse (Syrrhaptes paradoxus). A good many 

 small flocks of this species came to the island during the summer 

 of 1S8S. They kept constantly flying about, and a good many of 

 them were killed by the telegraph wires. They did not pair while 

 here, but kept in small flocks of a dozen birds or so. They dis- 

 appeared as winter approached. 



Partridge (Perdix cinerea). Both English and Hungarian 

 Partridges were introduced into the island about fifteen years 

 ago. At first they nested among the sea-bent, and were getting 

 on all right, but later they began to nest among the crops on 

 the crofts, and hatched out large broods. The crofters' cats went 

 for them, and they gradually dwindled away, until at the present 

 time (19 1 2) there are no Partridges on the island. I have not 

 a doubt but that the common rat helped the cats to exterminate 

 them, as they have burrows along old turf-banks and the banks 

 of ditches on all parts of the island. 



Quail (Coturnix communis). Only one bird of this species has 

 occurred here to my knowledge. This lay so close among some 

 long grass that I tried to catch it. Of course they may have 

 occurred many times without my seeing them. 



Land-Rail (Crex pratensis). Land-Rails are abundant here 

 every summer. When they arrive about the end of May the 

 island is very bare, the iris not having grown tall enough or thick 

 22 2 E 



