20 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xiv. 



of game-preserving, modifies or decreases their attacks on 

 Partridges, and whether this enlargement of habit is transient 

 or becomes permanent. If the capture of such large birds 

 as Partridges and Wood-Pigeons is a normal habit, and not 

 one of development, it seems somewhat incongruous that the 

 trivial name of Sparrow-Hawk should have been given to 

 this species. H. W. Feilden. 



Some Bird Notes from South Uist. — Mr. Donald 

 Guthrie, who was keeper on South Uist from 1883 to 1905, 

 summarizes his experiences of the local avifauna under the 

 above heading in the Scottish Naturalist (1919, pp. 145-150, 

 187-192 ; 1920, pp. 45-48). His observations are all interesting 

 and some, from an historical point of view, important, but 

 unfortunately lose in value from the almost total absence of 

 accurate dates. Amongst others we would draw attention 

 to the following : — 



Carrion Crow {Corvtis c. corone). — Mr. Guthrie states he 

 has once found a nest of this species in Barra Sound and once 

 on South Uist hill. There is no previous record of breeding. 



Hen-Harrier {Circus cyaneus). — The food of this species 

 is said to consist chiefly of mice, rats, and voles, while some- 

 times they kill young rabbits, stripping the skin neatly 

 back from the snout towards the tail before eating them. 

 Occasionally they kill Grouse, but very rarely. 



White-tailed Eagle {Haliaetus albicilla). — The author 

 speaks of this bird as now very rare and soon to become 

 extinct, and recalls the fact that John Lamont, who was 

 keeper in South Uist for fifty years, told him that when he 

 first knew the island they nested there freely. 



Sparrow-Hawk {Accipiter n. nisus). — Once seen. There 

 is only one previous record from the Outer Hebrides, Barra, 

 November 8th, 1913. 



Bean-Goose {Anser f. fabalis). — Mr. Guthrie states that 

 he has shot one or two, but the absence of dates makes it 

 doubtful whether this is a fresh record or not. The only 

 known record for the O. Hebrides is from S. Uist, March 1903. 



Sheld-Duck {Tadorna tadorna). — An interesting habit 

 in connection with feeding is described. It was first observed 

 in some young birds reared in captivity, though afterwards 

 also seen in full-grown ones. When hungry these young 

 ones used to come to the doorstep and begin to " mark time " 

 with their feet, and it is suggested that this performance 

 constitutes their method of squeezing worms to the surface 

 of the ooze on the shore. 



