NOTES ON BIRDS OBSERVED AT THE BUTT OF LEWIS 37 



Mallard {A/ms boscas). — The common Wild Duck is never 

 in great flocks at any time. Though the district is wet and 

 marshy, seemingly suitable for them, there is a poverty and lack 

 of insect or other food in the soil and water-runs, and therefore 

 little to attract them. 



Teal {Querquedula crecca). — Arrive in September and are 

 fairly numerous all winter. Numbers probably breed near the 

 lochs and burns on the moor. 



WiGEON {Mareca penelope). — Axx'we in September and remain 

 on a marshy loch here, more or less all winter and spring. In 

 1913 three pairs remained up till May, but in the closely populated 

 situation had no chance of breeding. They are during the winter 

 the commonest duck in the locality. 



Pochard {Fuligula ferind). — Has occurred several times as a 

 winter visitor. 



GoLDENEYE {Clanguhx glaucio?i). — The same remarks apply 

 to this species. 



Long-tailed Duck {Harelda glacialis). — A few flocks of these 

 appear in the sandy bays every winter and spring, arriving in 

 October and leaving in March and April ; these are the records 

 of their coming and going. Not over thirty or forty pairs are 

 seen. 



Eider {Somateria molHssiina). — Eiders arrive in small mixed 

 flocks early in autumn, and remain fishing about all winter if 

 weather be not too severe. A few pairs bred in the vicinity in 

 1909 and 191 1, the young broods being seen. 



Scoter {Oedemia nigra). — Have been observed on several 

 occasions in winter. A pair was on the loch in April 1913. 



Rock-dove {Coluffiba livid). — Very numerous, breeding in 

 all the caves and suitable rent and fissured rocks round the coast. 

 In late autumn large numbers are to be seen feeding on the crofts 

 and pasture-land. 



Turtle-dove {Tiirtur vulgaris). — One was killed by striking 

 the wireless aerials in September 19 12. The only specimen seen. 



Landrail {Crex pratensis). — An annual visitor, but in some 

 seasons scarce. They were first heard here on 22nd May 191 2 

 and 1914; other years in June. Their young chicks have been 

 found in July. A moulting bird was caught at the end of 

 September 19 14. 



{To be continued.) -t 



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