58 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAI. HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



down a good deal to the stooks and stubbles in early 

 morning and late evening, retiring to the nearest 

 heather during the day. When the covies get very 

 strong in the early part of the season they run 

 much before the dogs, more so than I have observed 

 elsewhere, and are very apt to rise out of shot. In 

 fine weather in November, up to the end of the 

 season, however, they lie almost too well, letting 

 you pass close to them without moving. In the early 

 part of the season grouse here feed almost entirely 

 on the little black crowberry with which much of the 

 island is then covered, and this is very apparent by 

 their droppings, which retain much of the colouring 

 matter of the berries, and are of quite a different 

 appearance from what they usually are. 



Fam. Phasianidce. 

 Partridge (Perclix cinei-ea). Xreneral Burroughs 

 introduced a few into Rousay, and they succeeded 

 for a time ; but I heard that this year there were 

 only some four or five left, though there appears no 

 reason why they should not do well, as there is 

 plenty of arable land. 



FULICARI^. 



Fam. Rallidce. 



Con^ en AKB (Cr ex prat ensis J. Very common; breed- 

 ing abundantly everywhere through the island, ex- 

 cept on the moor, even in the garden at Westness. 

 I have heard their harsh note as late as the end of 

 July, and on the 1st of August I saw a nest of eggs. 

 I have seen their nest, too, on one of the smaller 

 holms of only an acre or two in extent ; one such nest 

 was placed in a narrow drain, hidden by the over- 

 hanging grass. 



Waterhen (Gcdlimda chloropus). Found one bird 

 on 15th September when out after Wild Ducks at 

 Loch Wasbister. 



Coot (FuUca atra). Two or three pairs bred on 

 Loch Wasbister. Two nests I saw were made in the 



