A VISIT TO ST. K1LDA. 175 



38. WOODCOCK Scolopax rusticola, Linnaeus. 

 " Ootacac." Probably passes on migration. 



39. GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL Larus marinus, 

 Linnaeus. "Farspach." Common, and certainly 

 breeds in more or less abundance on Boon and 

 Soay. Much disliked by the natives because of 

 its egg-stealing propensities. 



40. LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL Larus fuscus, 

 Linnaeus. Breeds in considerable numbers on the 

 various islands and stacks. 



41. HERRING GULL Larus argentatus, Gmelin. 

 Widely distributed over the islands, but nothing 

 near so common as the preceding species. 



42. COMMON GULL Larus canus, Linnaeus. Is 

 said to frequent the islands, but I did not observe 

 this species. 



43. KITTIWAKE Larus tridactylus, Linnaeus. 

 "Ruideag." By far the commonest Gull in St. 

 Kilda, many of the cliffs being white with them. 

 Said to arrive in April and to leave in August. 



44. GREAT SKUA Stercorarius catarrhactes (Lin- 

 naeus). An irregular visitor. 



45. RED -BREASTED MERGANSER Mergus serrator, 

 Linnaeus. " Sheiltach." A rare visitor, the coasts 

 being scarcely suited to its requirements. 



46. EIDER DUCK Somateria mollissima (Linnaeus). 



