THE BIRDS OF IONA AND MULL. 217 



THE STONE CHAT. 



Is a common bird in Mull and lona. I have often been startled 

 by his note in some wild solitary spot. It so exactly resembles the noise 

 made by chipping a rock with a hammer, that I have hurriedly looked 

 round expecting to see a stray geologist tapping a vein of gneiss, but 

 of course only to see a quaint little bird with a black head sitting on a 

 bunch of heather making this odd note of defiance at me. 



THE REDBREAST. 



Robin makes himself at home in any of the islands where man has 

 his habitation, and meets with as much hospitality as in any other 

 portion of the British Isles. The crevices in the old ruins give him an 

 endless selection, for nesting sites. 



THE WHITE-THROAT. 



Is occasionally met with in lona among the shelter of the little 

 glens. 



THE GOLD-CRESTED WREN AXD BLUE TITMOUSE. 



These pretty little birds do not visit the smaller islands, though 

 they are plentiful enough on the mainland of Lorn and lower Argyll- 

 shire, where there are copses and hedges to shelter them. 



THE HEDGE SPARROW. 



Is abundant wherever man has made his abode, hopping about our 

 little gardens and cultivated patches, contented to remain where he 

 can find anything like a few bushes or shelter for himself and his little 

 nest, and picking up his subsistence without wandering far from home. 



THE GREY WAGTAIL. 



Is a not unfrequent summer visitor, but less abundant in the isles 

 than on the mainland. 



THE PIED WAGTAIL. 



This familiar little bird is met with on all the inhabited islands, 

 flitting about the pastures in summer, and tripping about the poultry- 

 yard and the precincts of the byres in winter. A hen will often make 



