THE SWALLOW. 205 



Throughout the west of Scotland the Kingfisher occurs in almost 

 every stream south of Sutherlandshire, and in some localities is 

 never absent. It has been found once or twice in Islay, and like- 

 wise in Skye, but not, so far as I am aware, in any part of the outer 

 chain of islands, where, looking to the absence of bush-margined 

 streamlets, its presence can scarcely indeed be expected. I have 

 found it breeding in several parts of Lanarkshire and Ayrshire; 

 one nest which I discovered on the banks of the Girvan water was 

 not more than five or six feet above the stream, and was conse- 

 quently exposed to inundation a fate which ultimately befel the 

 entire family group, as I afterwards learned. 



Mr Harvie Brown writes that the Kingfisher is common along 

 the banks of the Carron, in Stirlingshire, and that it is also well 

 known on the banks of the Endrick and other streams flowing 

 into Loch Lomond. He has taken the nest on several occasions 

 near his residence, and seen young broods following the parent 

 birds after being fledged, creating in the bright sunshine a some- 

 what unusual bird spectacle. 



ttiSESSOZSS. HIR UNDINID^E. 



FISSIROSTRES. 



THE SWALLOW. 



HIRUNDO RUSTICA. 



Gobhlan-gaoithe. 



THIS elegant bird is a well-known summer visitant over the whole 

 of western Scotland, extending to both groups of islands. It does 

 not appear to remain to breed in the Outer Hebrides, but specimens 

 are seen there every year. I have observed it in North Uist, 

 Benbecula, and South Uist, and Captain Feilden informs me that 

 he saw it in Barra on the 8th May, 1870. Mr Harvie Brown also 

 observed it near Lochmaddy on the same day. Its visits to. the 

 remoter islands are generally made early in the season, and can 

 only be looked upon as the results of a restless flight before the 

 birds settle in their breeding quarters. In the Inner Hebrides, its 

 stay extends over the summer: it is common in Mull and lona, in 

 Skye, Rum, Tyree, Coll, and probably all the smaller isles. 



On the mainland it becomes even more numerous, and is found 



