V'A 



LETTERS OF AN 0RNITH0L0GT8T. 

 Letter I. 



[Since the commencement of the past winter, these and other letters, 

 written by Mr. Graham, of lona, have formed part of a correspondence I have 

 had the happiness to enjoy with that gentleman j and I believe they contain 

 so much that is interesting to the ornithologist, apart from their pleasing 

 style, that many readers of "The Naturalist" will gladly excuse the mode 

 in which the information is conveyed to them. The receipt of these com- 

 munications has afforded me the liveliest satisfaction; and I am sure none 

 will regret they should have been offered for perusal. It may be proper to 

 observe that their enthusiastic author is not aware of the use to which they 



are now put. — B. (7] 



lona, February, 18r)2. 



We have now fortunately begun to enjoy some pleasant weather, and I 

 took advantage of the very first of the fine days to launch my boat and 

 go round to the back of the island, to make an attempt upon a flock of 

 Long-tailed Ducks, which have been there all the winter; and I succeeded in 

 killing a pair of fine males. One of them was in such fine plumage, and so 

 little hurt, that I felt sorry I could not send him to you as he then appeared, 

 looking beautiful even in death, without having to spoil his good looks by 

 our clumsy hands in the operation of taking his jacket off. 



A fine accessible RaA^en's nest, full of eggs, was wantonly destroyed by a 

 boat's crew of blackguard fishermen last year. The nest had been there for 

 a course of years, and the natives never meddled with it: it is on a wild 

 secluded cliff overhanging the sea, and the place was not canny! voices were 

 heard there — the thin voices of spirits! The Raven is not a canny bird, 

 especially those who were under special spiritual protection; and so there it 

 remained. I never heard of it till last year, as I suspect it was intentionally 

 concealed from me; for when I did discover it, several of the islanders, 

 including the village tailor, begged of me most earnestly not to think of 

 harrxjing the nest, or in any way to interfere with the foul fiend! Unfor- 

 tunately I was a day too late last year: I hope the vengeful spirit of the 

 desecrated nest overtook the fishermen with a good ducking before they got 

 home, and a foul wind ever after! I despaired of the Ravens returning, 

 but yesterday the old shepherd, (whose heart I had just enlarged by the 

 presentation of six inches of pigtail,) informed me that the Fi' ich, or Ravens, 

 had nearly finished building their nest in the old place. I hope that I may 

 get them if all goes right, even though it should be necessary to take a 

 basin of holy water from St. Columb's cell to dash into the nest and dislodge 

 the deil from his eggs. 



Collecting eggs, however, is as uncertain and full of disappointment as even 

 wild-fowl shooting, and this is why I speak so cautiously in the list I have 

 just written; for many of these eggs, though very plentiful at the islands, 



VOL. II. Y 



