THE BIRDS OF ION A AND MULL. 239 



The Ring Dotterel. 



Is a very common species on the gravelly seashores in winter, 

 resting at high- water on the sandy banks among the bent which grows 

 upon them ; and in summer a few breed here, though I only once 

 found a nest, or rather the eggs. They seem to be a good deal perse- 

 cuted by the stoat, whose tiny footmarks I have often observed im- 

 printed on the wet sands which these birds frequent, both by day and 

 night, when the tide is out ; and when rummaging out a stoat's nest, 

 a number of ring dotterels' wings are invariably found among the 

 bones, feathers, and other refuse forming the little hunter's spoils of 

 the chase. I have seen the stoat hunting in such localities, and if he 

 happens to be in his ermine dress, he forms a very interesting object, 

 running backwards and forwards, stealthily but swiftly, beating care- 

 fully over every inch of ground, winding in and out of the rocks, 

 turning the sharp corners with almost a snake-like action, and so in- 

 tently occupied as to allow you to approach near enough to stop his 

 career for ever. 



The Sanderling. 



Is rather an unusual straggler, though I may have often overlooked 

 him among the tribes of little shore-birds which swarm along our 

 coasts, and are known under the general title of Triollachan traigh. 



The Oyster-catcher. 



The Gaelic name on the western coast is Gillebride (gilly-breech), the servant of 

 St Bride, though I never heard the reason of this bird being peculiarly 

 dedicated to that saint. 



Is extremely abundant, and a decided feature in our maritime 

 scenery, his pied plumage and shrill clamour making him very con- 

 spicuous among the dark, fierce skerries of the "hoarse Hebrides," 

 cresting the reefs in great flocks, whence their merry, varied screams 

 ring above the deep murmur of the surf, full of merriment and glee, 

 for they are very lively birds, gregarious, fond of society, and appar- 

 ently much attached to each other, for, should one of their number fall 

 wounded, the rest of the Hock circle over their fallen comrade with 

 loud cries, expressive of sympathy, surprise, and anger, unmindful of 

 the approach of danger threatening them with the same fate. Though 



