SOME BIRD NOTES FROM THE OUTER HEBRIDES 25 



within a few yards of the nest by the male, who then would 

 leave her, to mount guard on some favourite knoll. Once both 

 birds seemed desirous of incubating. The female arrived there 

 first, and sat gravely for a few seconds, when she was pushed off 

 by her partner ; and thus engaged we left him. 



Common Sandpiper, Totanus hypoleucus^ Linn. — Ubiquitous through- 

 out the north, so too here it nests in considerable numbers. I 

 have few notes of any interest regarding this species. All the 

 nests we observed managed to hatch off in safety without attract- 

 ing the attention of the Gulls. One bird, in her frantic efforts 

 to lure us away from her nest, fell into the water, and pro- 

 ceeded to flap there in much the same way as a duck under 

 similar circumstances. One young Sandpiper enjoyed the 

 entirely novel experience of being hatched in our bed, whither 

 we had taken the egg on retiring to rest. We observed that 

 the young of this brood remained in the nest for a whole day 

 after hatching. 



Black-tailed Godwit^ Limosa belgica (J. F. Gmelin). — A solitary 

 specimen in full breeding plumage was seen on 17th June 

 feeding on a marshy island in one of the lochs in company with 

 Oyster Catchers and Black-headed Gulls. The other specimens 

 recorded for this locality have, I believe, been shot in winter. 



Whimbrel, Numenius phceopits, Linn. — Were extremely belated on 

 their migrations. I find it recorded that a flock of twenty was 

 seen on 31st May, while on 2nd June they were extremely 

 numerous, and a flock of thirty remained as late as 17th June. 

 After that stragglers, evidently non-breeding birds, used to feed 

 in company with Curlew. 



Arctic Tern, Ster?ia macrura, Linn. — Arrived late, and began to 

 nest correspondingly late. The first egg was not found till 

 8th June, and the full complement was in the majority of 

 instances not laid till ten days later. We found one colony of 

 fifty nests on an island, many of which were situated round a 

 deserted Swan's containing five addled eggs. Here the full 

 clutch was three eggs, while down on the beach the nests con- 

 tained two at the most. So well did they defend their nests 

 that not a single nest was robbed by Gulls. On i ith June I saw 

 a specimen in winter dress associating with the breeding birds. 



Little Tern, Sterna viinuta^ Linn. — I am glad to report that this 

 delightful species is on the increase. They too were extremely 

 late in arriving and commencing to breed. One pair had 

 already arrived by 27th May, but it was not till 20th June 

 that the first egg was found. They are extremely fond of 

 bathing, and a charming sight it is to see an affectionate couple 

 performing their ablutions in some fresh-water pool. They 



