48 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



MAMMALIA. 



Carnivora. 

 Fam. Mustelidcc, 



Otter (Lutra vulgaris). Very common, passing- 

 frequently during the late winter and early spring 

 U13 and down the burn that runs out of the Muckle 

 and Little Waters. A few come up to the burns 

 after the trout during the spawning season, but 

 their great haunts are the cairns and holes along 

 the sea-side. Being mostly nocturnal animals they 

 are rarely seen; but their droppings and well-worn 

 runs, which latter they make so as to cut oif corners 

 when going about the burns, are sufficient evidence 

 of their abundance. Their skins are said to be much 

 finer and darker than the mainland ones. 



PiNNIPEDIA. 



Fam. Phocidce. 



Common Seal fPhoca vitidlna). Abundant; haunt- 

 ing the Weir Skerries, and the Taing Skerry (between 

 Gairsay and Shapinshay) at low water, where they 

 rest ^vhen undisturbed. They are extremely shy; 

 and the three I killed, all females, had small shot 

 buried in their blubber, which amply accounted for 

 their wildness. The first two that I procured, at 

 the end of June and beginning of July, had each a 

 single young one inside, evidently on the point of 

 being born, though of course I did not know this at 

 the time. Their eyes were nearly open, and wheii 

 taken out of the uterus the long hair, with which 

 they are apparently clothed almost to the day of 

 their birth, fell ofP. 



When the summer is over, and the days get 

 shorter, the Seals no longer adhere so closely to the 

 Skerries, but wander along the coast. 



Before a storm of wind Seals have a habit of 

 jumping clean out of the water several times in 

 succession. 



