THE NATURALIST. 



NOTES ON THE BIRDS Oi^' IOjna. 



Br HENRY D. GRAHAM, ESQ. 

 ( Continued from Vol. II., page 214, 



The Rock Dove, (Columba livia.) 



The Wood Pigeon is unknown upon our rocky woodless shores, but its 

 absence is compensated for by great numbers of a smaller species — the Rock 

 Dove. 



The granite cliffs on the south of Mull, the basaltic crags of Staffa, and 

 lofty precipices of trap rock upon the adjacent islands, are all perforated 

 by innumerable caverns of every imaginable size and shape; from the well- 

 known majestic hall of Fingal, resounding with the sullen booming of 

 ever rolling waves, down to the little fairy grotto, whose cool white shell- 

 sand is scarce dimpled by the sparkling ripples of the sheltered sea. Some of 

 these caves are grand, and of lofty dimensions, with no floor but the deep 

 blue water which heaves to and fro through their huge frowning portals; others 

 are romantic and picturesque, their rocks covered with many-coloured lichens, 

 and their dark apertures fringed with shaggy heather and ivy, amongst which 

 is browsing a wild mountain goat, with huge horns and beard, But many more 

 of these caverns are horribly gloomy and forbidding — deep black dens extending 

 far beyond the reach of the light of day, stretching into the very bowels of 

 the adamantine cliff: the air smells dank and foul, and the walls are dripping 

 with unwholesome slime. It is dangerous to explore them further without 

 striking a light, as you may meet deep holes and black pools of water; and 

 it is not unlikely but you may see the twinkling eyes of an Otler peeping out 

 through the gloom. These caves generally have legends attached to them, 

 such as of fugitive clansmen hiding from the pursuit of the avenger of blood, 

 of wholesale deeds of murder, or of wild scenes of diablerie; and the names 

 of the Cave of Death, the Pit of Slaughter, and the Hohgohlin's Den are often 

 met with, and human bones actually are often discovered in them. 



These haunts of by-gone murderers, smugglei's, and outlaws, are now only 

 tenanted by Doves, the emblem of innocence. They may be seen perpetually 

 flitting in and out, some parties going off to feed, others returning to rest; 

 a few birds sitting about the entrance, pluming themselves in the sunshine, 

 or quietly dozing upon a sheltered ledge of rock. Upon a near approach, 

 the cooing of the old birds may be heard, together with the querulous peep- 

 peeping of the young demanding food, and the occasional stir of wings; but 



VOL. III. B 



-J 



