LETTER XII. 99 



permanent house or not. For my part, I do not intend finally to 

 set up my staff until I have trudged about a little while longer. 



As to the quadrupeds of Iona, the list is so short that they 

 are scarcely worthy of much notice. 



The Common Shrew {Sorex araneus 1 ) is found, though not 

 numerous. I was going to say that Bats never were seen in 

 Iona, but I recollect on one single occasion, while waiting at a 

 Pigeon cave, after dusk, seeing a solitary Bat flitting about the 

 mouth of it. This is the only one I ever saw either in Iona or 

 in the adjoining part of Mull, though there are numberless dark 

 caves round these shores. They are very abundant on the main- 

 land of Argyllshire, in the district called Lorn, opposite to the 

 Island of Mull. 



The Stoat {Mustela erminea) is very common throughout the 

 island, living in dry stone dykes, or holes under rocks. In one 

 of these dens, after killing its inmate, I took out the nest which 

 the little animal had made, consisting of dry grass and seaweed ; 

 there was also a good collection of small birds' feathers, and four 

 or five wings of Ringed Dotterels. These must have been caught 

 when sleeping on the shore. I have frequently seen the tracks of 

 the Ermine over the wet sand at low-water. I am not aware 

 whether or not it is common for these animals to take to the 

 water ; but I had the following anecdote from a humble friend, 

 who, I believe, could not misrepresent a fact, though he were to 

 try : — He saw a Stoat watching a flock of young Ducklings 



1 More correctly Sorex minutus, which alone occurs in the islands, to the 

 exclusion of the larger species, which is found on the mainland. Or if the larger 

 species ever occurs upon the islands, it must be looked upon as the result of 

 accidental or intentional introduction only. — Ed. 



