574 HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



Rabbits were but recently introduced and have proved, 

 as usual, a very scourge. 



The vertebrates which have the power of wing or fin 

 are to be found in great numbers if not of species, at least 

 of individuals. The first in order are the seals the 

 Phocidaea. 



The Common Seal (Phoca vttulina). 

 The Ringed Seal (P/wca hispida). 

 The Grey Seal (Phoca gryphus). 



The Whales or Cetacea come next 



The Right Whale (Balana biscayensis). 

 The Humped-back Whale (Megaptera longimand}. 

 The Common Rorqual (Balceoptera muscuhis). 

 The Pilot Whale (Globicephalus melas). 



Schools of about 200 of these whales were captured at 

 Stornoway in 1869 and in 1882. 



Akin to the Whale is the Porpoise (Phoccena communis). 



THE BIRDS OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



To name the birds which are to be seen in the Outer 

 Hebrides at all seasons of the year would be to name 

 almost all British birds. We omit all migratory and 

 restrict ourselves to indigenous birds, and by following 

 Macgillivray, the highest authority on the birds of the 

 Hebrides, we take those found in winter as well as those 

 found both in winter and in summer, in other words, we 

 keep to those to be seen all the year round. In winter 

 Macgillivray found the Brown Ptarmigan, the Grey Ptar- 

 migan, Snow Bunting, Water Rail, Snipe and Black Snipe. 

 On the lakes are to be seen during winter, the Swan, Bean- 

 Goose, Brent Goose, the Golden Eye Goose, and the Dab- 

 chick. In many of the brooks are to be seen the Wood- 

 cock and the Dipper. 



In pastures are seen the Field Lark, Corn Bunting, Reed 

 Bunting, Brown Linnet, Twite, Hedge-Chanter, and the 

 Common Wren. The " Golden Crested " Wren has been 



