The Summer Birds of the Summer Islands, 53 



23. NUMENIUS ARQUATA (Linn.). 



(Common Curlew.) 



Several observed on Horse Island, where it undoubtedly 

 nests. 



24. Sterna macrura, Naum. 



(Arctic Tern.) 



On the 7th June we visited Carn-nan-Sgeir, where, as 

 our ghillies informed us, the Terns nested in considerable 

 numbers. On our way thither we landed on Horse Island, 

 on which we observed at least thirty. To our great astonish- 

 ment, however, we found not the slightest trace of its nest, 

 or of the bird itself, on Carn-nan-Sgeir. Our ghillies con- 

 cluded that the Terns had been compelled by ruthless 

 persecution to abandon the island. Towards the end of the 

 month Mr Bonar observed large flocks of Terns flying in 

 the direction of this island, and he believes that these birds 

 still breed there, but that the time of our search was too 

 early to permit of us obtaining nests. The Arctic Tern, 

 however, certainly nests on Glasleac Mor, but that was the 

 sole island of the group from which we obtained eggs. 



25. Larus ridibundus, Linn. 



(Black-headed Gull.) 



A pair of these birds were observed by Mr Bonar in 

 Baden Bay, and on the same day he saw several following 

 the plough at Auchnahaird. 



26. Larus canus, Linn. 



(Common Gull.) 



Very common, nesting in large numbers on many of the 

 islands. In every case I found that this Gull breeds on 

 these islands on the bare rock, and never among heather. 

 A Gull belonging to this species had her nest, which 



