182 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



sionally in the Outer Hebrides, and various correspondents in the 

 Long Island have informed me that in winter straggling parties 

 come over from the mainland. These are seen on all the islands, 

 from Lewis to Barra, but their visits do not extend beyond one or 

 two days. Writing from lona, Mr Graham states that the Rook is 

 only a winter visitant to the small isles, though the flocks then re- 

 main for some time. " Shepherds assure me," continues Mr 

 Graham, "that though they come day by day to feed in lona, 

 they never remain all night, but invariably recross the Sound to 

 roost in Mull, though there are no trees even there within reach. 

 I have continually met them at dusk flying low over the sea 

 towards the rocky shores which bound the south coast of Mull. 

 There are several rookeries on the mainland : one, for instance, at 

 Auchendarroch, near Lochgilphead, and another on the opposite 

 shores of Cowal, the occupants of which often cross over to feed 

 in winter, but never fail to return at night. When belated on the 

 water, wild-fowl shooting, they have passed me streaming home 

 in small parties, flying close above my boat, and have often nearly 

 led me into shooting at them by mistake in the doubtful light." 



I have seen large flocks of these birds overtaken by darkness 

 when out on their daily foraging expeditions, on which occasions 

 they were obliged to take up their quarters for the night on hill 

 sides, perching hundreds at a time on rocky boulders and 

 stunted trees. It is possible that this habit continued for some 

 months of the year, as the localities in which I have observed 

 it were distant from any extensive wood where the birds could 

 be accommodated. 



Curious varieties of the Rook frequently occur. Mr W. Smellie 

 Watson, of Edinburgh, informs me that he has two cream-coloured 

 specimens in his collection, which were shot at Castle-Douglas; 

 and I have now before me two interesting pied varieties from the 

 collection of Mr Harvie Brown: one of these has the long feathers 

 which cover the nostrils, of a pure white. Both are young birds, 

 and have the legs and claws pied as well as the plumage. 



