IV. 



lONA, 4th March 1852. 



THE KAVEN'S NEST, AND EGG COLLECTING. 



WE have now fortunately begun to enjoy some pleasant weather, 

 and I took advantage of the very first of the fine days to launch 

 my boat and go round to the back of the island, to make an 

 attempt upon a flock of Long-tailed Ducks, which have been there 

 all the winter ; and I succeeded in killing a pair of fine males. 

 One of them was in such fine plumage, and so little hurt, that 

 I felt sorry I could not send him to you as he then appeared, 

 looking beautiful even in death, without having to spoil his 

 good looks by our clumsy hands in the operation of taking his 

 jacket off. 



A fine accessible Eaven's nest, full of eggs, was wantonly 

 destroyed by a boat's crew of blackguard fishermen last year. 

 The nest had been there for a course of years, and the natives 

 never meddled with it. It is on a wild, secluded cliff overhanging 

 the sea, and the place was not canny ! Voices were heard there 

 the thin voices of spirits ! The Kaven is not a canny bird, 

 especially those who were under special spiritual protection; and 

 so there it remained. I never heard of it till last year, as, I 

 suspect, it was intentionally concealed from me ; for when I did 

 discover it, several of the islanders, including the village tailor, 

 begged of me most earnestly not to think of harrying the nest, 



