ioo BIRD-LIFE IN WEST-HIGHLAND PARISH 



A still harsher evening sound is that of the 

 landrail or corncrake, another summer visitor 

 from Africa, which extends its journeys as far 

 as the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia. When one 

 considers the weak, laboured flight of this short- 

 winged bird, one is filled with wonder at a 

 range extending from thence to Natal. One 

 seems driven to accept the theory that some 

 inborn instinct teaches our migrants to ascend 

 until a permanent atmospheric current of great 

 velocity is reached to bear them on their 

 perilous journey ; a hint which is herewith gra- 

 tuitously presented to those unfeathered bipeds 

 who seek to emulate their flight. A near 

 relative, the water-rail, also recorded in our 

 area, is much less generally known, although 

 widely distributed, occurring also in our Outer 

 Islands. Its shy and skulking habits shield it 

 from casual observation. 



In the latter days of April the welcome call 

 of the cuckoo is usually heard. The earliest 

 date in the last fourteen years in this district 

 was 2 ist April, 1898; the latest the 8th May, 

 1906. In 1909 they were first heard on 23rd 

 April. As a rule, the cuckoo is very widely 

 distributed all over the West Coast and the 

 Islands. On two separate occasions the freshly- 

 killed remains of cuckoos have been found here 



