42 THE BIRDS OF IONA AND MULL. 



little acquainted with it. In an old edition of the Encyclopedia 

 Britannica it is mentioned by the name of " Parasiticus," as very 

 common and breeding at Islay and Jura ; but it seems now to 

 have nearly deserted those shores. 



The Turnstone (Strepsilas interpres) is very numerous here ; 

 in winter large flocks feed upon the shores at ebb-tide ; and 

 during the flood they assemble upon the rocks. They are always 

 to be found upon the little unfrequented rocky islets, wandering 

 about the seaweed-covered rocks, almost within reach of the wash 

 of the surf. They seem to feed as much in this manner as upon 

 the gravelly beaches. During severe storms they sometimes 

 come a little way inland to the sandy fields. They are generally 

 tame and stand well together, and so give a good shot. Last 

 year I met with flocks as late as the 28 th of May ; the birds had 

 nearly acquired their summer plumage. On the 8 th of June the 

 flocks had entirely disappeared, but a few pairs remained in 

 different spots, and these were in most brilliant plumage — very 

 unlike their sombre winter garb, the body covered with a com- 

 bination of red, black, and white, giving the appearance of tortoise- 

 shell, and the neck and breast curiously marked with black and 

 white. In fact, they were in full breeding dress ; and I 

 suppose these pairs must have remained here with the intention 

 of nesting in this country. 



The mode I generally adopt now to destroy life in birds, 

 whether wounded or not, is by tying a loop in a bit of twine, 

 putting it over the bird's head, suddenly pulling it tight by both 

 ends, and in a few seconds life is extinct with apparently little 

 pain. It is almost the only effectual way of killing some of the 



