THE BIRDS OF LEWIS, HEBRIDES. 



RECENTLY, on the kind invitation of the owner 

 of Lewis, or Lews — as the original name is — 

 Rt. Hon. Lord Leverhulrne, I visited the Island 

 to take a natuialist's survey of this famous haunt of biids. 



I arrived at Lochalsh to take steamer for Stornoway 

 on August the first, and during the voyage, which usually 

 takes six hours — for this Glasgow boat is a slow one, 

 doing about ten knots at most — I saw several species 

 of gulls, either disporting themselves in the wate?, or 

 following the vessel in quest o f broken bits thrown over- 

 board. Furtht t in the Minch I descried bunches of the 

 Little Stint, the usual frequenters of most island shores. 

 Now an early Widgeon comes into view, and then one sees 

 a darting swift descend in the wake of the vessel. This is 

 the Skua, who has noticed the gull in the act of taking a 

 herring or other fish, and who piomptly descends to wrest 

 the morsel, as is his custom. 



Still further out, with the aid of glasses I saw the 

 Gannet in its hawklike plunge to the " briny," evidently 

 after herring. The shades of evening put a stop to 

 further investigation. Next morning I visited Stornoway 

 Castle and grounds — of which I learned later there are 

 no less than twenty miles of paths formed mostly in 

 terraces, amid circuitous routes, amongst the most 

 picturesque sylvan scenery of woodland, and bordered by 

 the delightful sea reach. 



Here I came across skeletons and feathers of song- 

 birds, and herein lies a tale. I found the hawks in 

 possession — Sparrow-hawk, Merlin, and Kestrel, all had 

 contributed to the spoliation of the beautiful singing 

 species of the countryside. I reported this. 



My next place of vantage was the Port of Ness and the 

 Butt of Lewis, in the extreme north of the island, Here I 

 remained for a fortnight, and I was amply repaid for this 

 visit. The Kittiwakes were seen resting on many of the 

 rock ledges, and flitting to and fro uttering their customary 

 shrill cry. Further out Cormorants flew just over the 

 crest of the wave, and now and again the great Black- 



