82 Mr. C. Dixon on the 



beginning of June. It makes its nest either in one of the 

 numerous " cleats/^ or in a crevice of a wall^ or under an 

 overhanging bank. The nest is exactly similar to that of 

 the Common Wren, and abundantly lined with feathers. I 

 had not the good fortune to obtain any of its eggs, but I 

 presume that they resemble those of its near congener. 



CoRvus coRAX. " Fiaeh."' 



The Raven is a rare resident in St. Kilda, but the natives 

 occasionally rob its nest. 



CoRvus coRNix. " Fannag." 



The Hooded Crow is very common in St. Kilda, and, when 

 not engaged in family duties on the cliffs, it lives almost 

 exclusively near the cottages, perching on their roofs, ready 

 to pounce down upon any garbage that may be thrown out. 

 The Crows are incessantly mobbing the Gulls and fighting 

 with each other. All those I examined were thoroughbreds, 



CoRvus FRUGiLEGUs. " Rockcish.^' 



Donald M'^Queen told me that the Rook is occasionally 

 seen in St. Kilda during winter. 



Sturnus vulgaris. " Druit." 



The Starling is fairly common on St. Kilda and breeds in 

 the "cleats.^' I found a nest containing young birds in a 

 hole in the ground under a large mass of rock. At the time 

 of my visit many Starlings were preparing for a second 

 brood. 



Passer domesticus. 



The House-Sparrow is included in the lists of St.- Kilda 

 birds by the early writers ; but I am almost certain that it 

 does not regularly frequent the island. It may possibly 

 occur accidentally. 



Passer montanus. 



I saw a pair of Tree-Sparrows on the 9th of June and shot 

 one of them. They breed in the holes of the rough stone 

 walls that enclose the fields. 



