132 THE BIRDS OF IONA AND MULL. 



It is wonderful what work is done with such antique-looking 

 tools as these, even, as I have sometimes seen, when fired off by 

 a fiery peat applied to the touch-hole. The old man holds the 

 gun, and one of the bairns applies the match, and picks up the 

 game if there is any ; as for the gunner, he is lying flat on his 

 back, with both eyes filled with red-hot peat dust. 



M'Gillivray describes the Sea Eagle as often spending his 

 leisure hours in floating upon the waves. 1 It must be a singular 

 and striking sight to see a bird of this description upon the water. 

 The only terrestrial bird I ever saw willingly take to the sea was 

 the Sea Pyet or Oyster-catcher. I once saw a large flock pitch 

 down upon the water and remain swimming for some considerable 

 space of time. It was in a spot where the water was literally 

 alive with young Saithe or Coal-fish a semi-fluid mass " a 

 brochan 2 of cuddies," as the natives express it, which probably 

 invited the birds to perform this natatorial feat. 



The Sea Pyet, when wounded, not only swims with ease, but 

 if pressed dives with great activity, rendering it no easy task to 

 capture it, even with a boat. I once caught a young unfledged 

 Sea Pyet, and placed him in the boat. He instantly jumped out. 

 I thought the dissolute young rascal had committed suicide ; but 



1 The Editor can remember no such statement of M'Gillivray's ; and our 

 author rightly remarks that such a proceeding on the part of a Sea Eagle must 

 be a " singular and striking sight." 



2 In order that to the mind of a Sassenach the simile may seem fitting, we 

 give Jamieson's translation of the word brochan viz. : " Oatmeal boiled to a con- 

 sistence somewhat thicker than gruel ; " and to explain that, to be true to the 

 native's acceptation of the said simile, the brochan should not be "off the boil." 

 We may further endeavour to enlighten the uninitiated by stating, what may 

 not be generally known south of the Gates of the Highlands, that "cuddies " is a 

 word of Scandinavian origin, not applied there to brainless men, but to juvenescent 

 specimens of Saithe or Coal-fish. ED. 



