SHETLAND MIDSUMMER 137 



The hawks, also, are those which frequent open 

 places, or bare sea-cliffs. The sea-eagle is a common 

 form. The peregrine falcon sweeps from his perch 

 in pursuit of the guillemot, or the razorbill. His 

 miniature, the merlin falcon, pursues, with a similar 

 flight, the lark, and the meadow-pipit. Absent in 

 winter, the kestrel is found in summer hovering over 

 the shivering rodent. Greenland falcon, and hen 

 harrier are not uncommon. The goshawk is rare. 



Among the night-hawks, the short-eared owl is 

 common in spring, and autumn. The long-eared 

 owl is rare. The barn, and wood owls probably 

 absent. The snowy owl is occasionally seen ; 

 possibly driven over by storm, although he has 

 been supposed to breed. 



The hooded - crow abounds, since there is no 

 gamekeeper to hold him in check. The carrion- 

 crow is rare; thus reversing the order for the 

 south. The raven is one of the common sights, 

 and his croak one of the common sounds. 

 Probably, he too profits by the absence of persecu- 

 tion. He frequently attacks the hens, so largely 

 kept by the crofters. 



Most interesting of all, perhaps, are the rock- 

 pigeons, the reputed source of our breeds. Not 

 that they are unknown round the coast of Scot- 



