A VISIT TO ST. KILDA. 173 



23. SKYLARK Alauda arvensis, Linnaeus. Occa- 

 sional visitor. 



24. ROLLER Coracias garrula, Linnaeus. One 

 example appears to have been observed on St. 

 Kilda about half a century ago. 



25. CUCKOO Cuculus canorus, Linnaeus. " Cuach." 

 Occasionally visits the islands. Its appearance is 

 regarded with awe by the natives, who say that it 

 portends a calamity the death of Macleod, the 

 proprietor of the islands. 



26. ROCK DOVE Columba livia, Brisson. Fre- 

 quents the islands in small numbers and breeds 

 on them. 



27. PTARMIGAN Tetrao mutus (Montin). One 

 example has been seen on St. Kilda after strong 

 easterly winds. 



28. HERON Ardaa cinerea, Linnaeus. " Gorridhgr- 

 id-heach." Accidental visitor. The natives gener- 

 ally pick them up dead starved, as the water round 

 the coast is too deep to admit of the birds catching 

 food. The St. Kildan sometimes stalks and snares 

 this bird as it stands upon the rocks. 



29. CORN CRAKE Crex pratensis, Bechstein. 

 "Trien." Occasional visitor on migration, more 

 abundant some years than others, and always 

 chiefly in autumn. 



