NOTES OX THE BIKDS OF lONA. 81 



mystery is laid bare. We see a little black object shufHIng off, its small 

 white egg lying upon a few blades of dry grass to protect it from the 

 hard rock. The bird scircely makes an effort to escape; as if dazzled by 

 the broad glare of day-light, or stunned by the depth of its misfortune, it 

 lies passively in the hand of its captor, gives a faint squeak, and drops a 

 pellucid tear, in the shape of a globule of oil, from its beak. 



I have compared specimens taken from these two different breeding-places, 

 but I am unable to detect any difference between them. The Soay bird is 

 always silent: I never heard him indulge in these curious melodies. Both 

 have a very powerful odour — a musky kind of smell, which adheres to the 

 skins years after they are stuffed, and to everything they come in contact 

 with. I have perceived it when walking upon the beaches at Caru-burg 

 Island, and at Soay it needs no terrier to inform you which holes are inhabited. 



The Red-Legged Crow, (Fregihis graculus.) 



We have three pairs of these birds constantly resident upon the island, 

 and there are several other pairs which make their nests upon the adjacent 

 rocky shores of Mull. The lona birds breed every season upon the island, 

 and usually roost during the rest of the year somewhere in the vicinity of 

 their old nest; but, though they rear a young brood every season, these are 

 sent off as soon as fledged to seek for other shores; and the same limited 

 number only remains with us. 



The Chough is a very pleasing bird; his movements are active and 

 sprightly; he is always in the highest spirits, bustling about, calling and 

 responding to his mate. His voice somewhat resembles the Jackdaw's, but 

 it is much more cheerful and lively, having a clear ringing sound. Chow! 

 Chow! Chow! he cries till all the distant caves resound with his own name. 



These birds always maintain a friendly footing with the Jackdaws, associating 

 with them in their feeding excursions, and sometimes accompanying them 

 home. The huge square tower of St. Columba's venerable shrine, grizzled 

 with age, moss-grown and roofless, still braves the shocks of time and the 

 fury of the elements, and affords secure shelter to a colony of Jackdaws 

 among its time-worn shafts and decaying windows. The belfry walls, which 

 once vibrated to the merry-peeling chimes, or the sadly-tolling knell, now 

 only awakens to the chattering voices of Daivs. But, however this may be, 

 the Jackdaws look upon the old tower as their exclusive property; and if 

 any audacious Hooded Crow or Kestrel ventures to alight upon it, in a 

 moment he is hustled off by the whole community, perhaps with the loss of 

 some of his tail feathers. One pair of Red-legs is, however, allowed by these 

 jealous republicans to rear their family in the midst of them; and also at 

 other times of the year they are welcome guests to roost upon their tower. 

 This nest was built last year in the ledge of a small window on the very 

 summit of the tower upon the inside: though quite out of reach the outer 

 sticks could be seen from below. Wc waited patiently hoping that some of 



VOL. II. M 



