512 On the Birds of the Island of Raasay. 



Red-throated Diver, on a fresh-water loch, and had great 

 hopes of their breeding' with ns_, but they never did so. They 

 are often seen on the sea as well. 



Red-throated Diver. Colymbus septentrional is. 



This and the preceding species are about equally numerous. 

 The male bird is very inquisitive in the early summer, and 

 likes to investigate unusual fights. I have lain in the 

 heather by the side of a loch and waved a rod to puzzle him, 

 when he dived and came closer and closer, even raising 

 himself out of the water to try and get a better view of the 

 strange object. He even approached within twenty yards of 

 me, the female in the meantime remaining from fifty to 

 sixty yards away; when his curiosity was satisfied, he dived 

 and rejoined his mate. 



Little Grebe. Tachybaptes fluviatilis. 



Two pairs nest yearly, each on a small sedge-covered loch. 



Razorbill. Alca torda. 



Thousands pass southward during the late summer and 



autumn, and again northward in the spring; they do not 

 nest with us. 



Common Guillemot. Lomvia troile. 



The same may be said ol r this bird as of the preceding, but 

 it is seen in greater numbers. 



Black Guillemot. Uria grylle. 



Common, breeding in many of the small caves ; a few even 

 nest in a large cave inhabited by a colony of Shags. 



Little Auk. Mergulus alle. 



A few examples have been found washed up dead after a 

 heavy northerly gale. In December 1899 two were caught 

 alive, but much exhausted, on the shore of a small bay facing 

 the Minch. 



Puffin. Fratercula arctica. 



Large quantities of these birds pass on their way to and 

 from their breeding-stations. 



