86 The Birds of Bute and Arran. [Sess. 
heard in Argyleshire, close at hand, more than likely this is 
not the first time it has visited Bute; but apparently 
those visits have been overlooked, or not made _ public. 
In any case, it is safe to say that, take it all round, it 
must be classed as a vara avis so far as our country of 
Scotland is concerned. 
I must now bring these remarks to a close by again ex- 
pressing disappointment at the scanty numbers of the feathered 
fauna brought under your notice; but without devoting one’s 
time specially to the subject, and making careful observations 
at all periods of the year, so as to include both summer and 
winter migrants, also chance stragglers, it would be foolish, 
not to say unjust, to jump to the conclusion that those two 
islands, taking into account their general characteristics, are 
more devoid of variety in bird life than other parts of our 
native land. 
BIRDS NOTED IN ButE puRING May 1899. 
Rook. Swallow. 
Jackdaw. House-martin. 
Common gull. Sand-martin. 
Black-headed gull. Chaffinch. 
Oyster-catcher. Greenfinch. 
Redshank. Whitethroat. 
Ringed plover. Willow warbler. 
Guillemot. Wood warbler. 
Heron. Chiffchaff warbler. 
Curlew. Grasshopper warbler. 
Peewit. Wheatear. 
Cormorant. Whinchat. 
Common sandpiper. Robin, 
Cuckoo. Hedge-accentor. 
Partridge. Redpole. 
Red grouse. Wren. 
Mallard. Golderest. 
Corncrake. Pied wagtail. 
Rock-pipit. Grey wagtail. 
Meadow-pipit. House-sparrow. 
Tree-pipit. Great tit. 
Missel-thrush. Cole tit. 
Mavis. Blue tit. 
Blackbird. Skylark. 
Starling. Wood-pigeon. 
Corn-bunting. Water-hen. 
Yellow bunting. Coot. 
Swift. 
