GENERAL DESCRIPTION 39 



Rare and Migrating Birds. Birds rarely seen in Britain 

 sometimes visit these islands, or are driven to them by 

 stormy weather. One of these rare visitors was picked up 

 alive at the roadside between Kiloran and Kilchattan on 

 1st January 1897. It was sent to Edinburgh, and identified 

 by Mr W. Eagle Clarke, M.B.O.U., keeper of the Natural 

 History Department, Royal Scottish Museum, as the Frigate 

 Petrel. The bird is now on view in the Museum, and is one 

 of the only two specimens yet found in European waters. 

 The other one was washed ashore dead on Walney Island, 

 Morecambe Bay, in November 1890. Prior to that date it 

 was not seen north of the Canary Isles. Common in the 

 Southern Hemisphere, the species was found breeding in 

 great numbers on the islands off S.W. Australia by Gould's 

 collector, Gilbert. 



Certain birds, on the other hand, that used to frequent the 

 island are now rarely or never seen. The Chough (Cnamh- 

 ach) used to nest in various places, but it has not been much 

 in evidence for a number of years. From Sguid Pioghaid we 

 might infer that the Magpie (Pioghaid) was once a native. 



Visitors to the island or its shores that have been casually 

 noticed include the Fieldfare (Liath-Truisg), Redwing, 

 Shoveller, Tufted Duck, Sand Grouse (seen one season), 

 Dotterel, Sanderling, Turnstone, Greenshank, Dunlin, and 

 "American Cuckoo." 



In addition to those already mentioned, the author has 

 been able, with the kind assistance of Professor Graham 

 Kerr, of Glasgow University, to bring together the local 

 Gaelic and English (or Latin) names of various birds, fishes, 

 shellfish, etc., which may be inserted here. 



BIRDS. 



Bal-ar-Bbdhan. Black Cormorant. 

 Cathag. Jackdaw. Feannag Idheach. 

 Clachran Coille. Stone-chat. 



