Mr. Macgillivray's Account of the Outer Hebrides^ 331 



19. M. Serrator. 22. Alca Torda. 



20. Sula alba. • 23. Mormon Fraterculus. 



21. Uria Irvile. 



The occasional or irregular visitants are, 



1 . Corvus frugilegus. 3. Alca impennis. 



2. Motacilla alba. 



Why there should be so large a proportion of birds of prey, it is 

 not easy to say. Most of the species, however, seem to have but 

 few representatives. Perhaps the eagles are more numerous than 

 any other species ; at least one frequently sees more eagles in a 

 day than hawks. 



"The Omnivorce, although few in species, are pretty numerous in 

 individuals. 



The Insectivoree bear a fair proportion to the others. 



The GranivorcB are few ; the Zygodactylce and Ckelidones are 

 each reduced to one species. 



The Columhce and Gallinee are very low in point of species ; but 

 the rock-pigeon is very abundant, and the red grouse exists in 

 many parts in astonishing numbers. 



The Pinnatipedes are not proportionally deficient. But the 

 Grallatores and Palmipedes outnumber all the other orders toge- 

 ther, as to species, and in respect to individuals are probably far 

 above them. 



In winter the heaths and lower grounds seem almost destitute of 

 birds ; but here and there large flocks of pigeons and starlings are 

 seen, with occasionally vast numbers of plovers. At this season, 

 however, the shores are swarming with Grallce, and numerous gulls 

 and other birds, ravens, crows, &c. are met with along them. In 

 spring the country wears the same dull appearance ; but, as the 

 summer advances, myriads of aquatic birds are seen on the waters, 

 and the land swarms with rails, wheatears, and whimbrels. The 

 remote islands, such as Heisker, Gasker, the south isles of Barray, 

 the Flannan Isles, and the Shiant Isles, become covered with sea- 

 birds of different species, the numbers of which are truly astonish- 

 ing. Some idea may be formed of these breeding-places, by read- 

 ing the following extract from one of my note-books. 



" Vatersay, \^ih June 1818. On reaching Berneray we landed, 

 and soon after betook ourselves to a hut, which we found cleared 

 for our reception. Here we dined on roasted mutton, wild fowls' 

 eggs, bread, butter, and whisky. The goodman of the house came 

 home with a basketful of eggs from the rocks, and some birds which 

 he had caught. We then rowed round the eastern extremity of the 

 island, where we shot about forty guillemots and two or three gulls, 

 with which we returned to our lodging after rowing round the is- 

 land. On Friday morning some of our crew had gone to the rocks 

 and returned with their hats full of eggs, and with some birds. 

 The island of Berneray is upwards of a mile in length, and of half 



VOL. II. 2 u 



