322 Mr. Max:gi]liyra.y's Account of the Outer Hebrides. 



carrion. They nestle in cliffs overhanging the sea, and, more fre- 

 quently than the other speeies of eagle, in rocks among the moun- 

 tains. 



4. Falco Alhicilla, the Cinereous Eagle, Sea Eagle, or White' 

 tailed Eagle, An lolair ghlas, or gray eagle, is still more abun- 

 dant. The extent of wing of an individual which I examined in 

 Harris, was seven feet four inches, but I saw another in the par- 

 lour of the minister of South Uist, which he informed me measured 

 nine feet. This bird lives partly by rapine, but chiefly on carrion. 

 Fish constitutes a principal part of its food. Hence it is often seen 

 on the shores, and by the streams and lakes. In the lambing sea- 

 son it often commits great havock, but seldom carries off lambs un- 

 less from an eminence, and when the wind is high, as it experi- 

 ences considerable difficulty in rising from the ground. It breeds 

 in the inaccessible parts of cliffs overhanging the sea, and some- 

 times on inland rocks, as well as on islands in lakes. 



On the subject of eagles, it may not be amiss to mention that 

 the Hebri deans do not distinguish between the young and the old 

 birds of F.fulvus, naming both the black eagle, although they dis- 

 tinguish between the young and old of F. Albicilla, naming the 

 former An lolair riamhach, or red and brown eagle, and the latter 

 An lolair ghlas, or gray eagle. They are too well acquainted 

 "with the bird, however, to fall into the error of museum observers 

 as to specific distinction between the old and young. 



5. Falco Nisus, the Sparrow-Hawk, An Speirag, is not rare in 

 any of the large islands. 



6. Falco Milvtis, the Kite, is very rare. 



7. Falco rufus, the Moor-Harrier. Of this species I once saw 

 an individual in Harris. 



8. Falco cyaneus, the Hen~Harrier, An Seahhag, is not un- 

 common, and sometimes carries off chickens when they have stray- 

 ed to a distance from the huts. In this exploit, however, he is ex- 

 celled by the more sagacious raven. 



2. Omnivorce. 



9. Corvus Cor ax, the Raven, Biadhtach, Fitheach, is astonish- 

 ingly common in all parts. It roosts and nestles in high rocks on 

 the sea-shore, as well as in the interior, and feeds on carrion of all 

 kinds, fish, poultry, eggs, grain, grass, &c. In autumn the ravens 

 become subgregarious, when they make great havock in some places 

 among the barley. At other times they are commonly seen in 

 pairs, excepting for some weeks after br-.nging their brood abroad, 

 when the whole family fly about together. I have seen one with 

 patches of white in its plumage, and, about fifteen years ago, an 

 individual entirely white was seen in the island of Pabbay. When 

 grampuses or other large cetaceous animals are stranded, it is asto- 

 nishing to see the numbers which congregate from all parts. The 

 raven is the first to find out a dead sheep among the hills. He 



