268 TtTK BIRDS OF STRATH BKa. 



instead of again courting slumber, being wet with the rain, I now hied me 

 to the sands, and where I now found that the sea had risen far above its 

 usual mark, and had swept away all the nests that I was in search of. 

 Wandering about bemoaning my sad misluck, my eye rested on a dark-looking 

 object coming sailing steadily along toward me, but diving into the surf now 

 and then. I saw it was a stranger, and prepared accordingly. I staggered, 

 being stiff with cold, to meet him. We neared, and down fell the splendid 

 Skua I have already mentioned. I have seen it stated that these birds do not 

 fish for themselves. If I can believe my own eyes I can affirm that they do. 

 The one alluded to vomited, when newly brought down, a goodly-sized Sand 

 Eel, (Ammodi/tes Tohianus,) which was alive. Besides, the stomach, on 

 dissection, contained two entire small Herrings, (Clupea harengus,) which I 

 am sure the bird picked from the water that morning himself. 



The Sandwich Tern, {Sterna Boysii.) I should say rare — observed a pair 

 this summer. The same may be said of the Cinereous Shearwater, [Pvffinus 

 Cinereus;) not so of the Fulmar, [Procellaria gJacialis,) and the little Stormy 

 Petrel, {Thalassidroma pelagica,) as they are occasional passers; the Solan 

 Goose, {Sula hassana,) also, but more frequent. I remember seeing a large 

 White Gull there in May, 1852, but could not get within shot. What 

 species could it have been? I considered myself at the time that it was either 

 a white variety of the Great Black-backed, or else a pure specimen of the 

 Iceland Gull. Whilst there this season, Mr. G. and I observed a similar bird, 

 but neither of us could get near it. My friend considered it to be Larus 

 Leucopterus. The Brindled, (?) {Uria lacrymans?) the Common, {U. troille,) 

 and the Black Guillemots, ( U. grylle,) the Razor-bill, {Alca torda,) the Little 

 Auk, {Mergulus alle,) and the Puffin, {Fratercula arctica,) are all met with 

 seawards; the first rarely. Likewise the Long-tailed Duck, {Hardda glacialis,) 

 the Black and Velvet Scoters, {Oidemia nigra, and O. fusca,) as also many 

 other Dacks, etc., already mentioned, as being visitors to the Loch. 



The Cormorant, (Phalocrocorax carbo,) the Black-throated, (Oolynihus arcticus,) 

 the Ked-throated, (C. septentrionalis,) and the Great Northern Diver,* (C. 

 glacialis,) are yearly visitors. These birds are likewise occasionally met with on 

 the Loch during winter. Besides the Grallaiores already mentioned, the 

 Sanderling, (Arenaria calidris,) the Knot, (Tringa canidus,) the Gray Plover, 

 (Squatarola cinerea,) the Turnstone, (Strepsilas interpres,) the Scapiet, {Ilce- 

 matopus ostralegm,) and the Curlew, {Numeniua arquata,) are all winter 

 birds, and, with the exception of the Gray Plover, have all, at rare intervals, 

 been met with during summer; large numbers of Curlews are often seen during 

 that season. The Red Godwit, {Limosa riifa,) is frequently found in autumn; 

 the Black-tailed, (Z.. melanura^ on two occasions. The Curlew Sandpiper, 



* A most splendid specimen of this bird, in full breeding dress, was found on the sands of 

 Rattcry, this summer. It was skinned by one of the preventive men there, but who could do no 

 more. It has now, however, passed into the hands of Lord Sultoun, who is to have it 

 preserved and mounted. 



