The Birds of Shjc. 119 



list ; and it is hoped that such blanks as exist may be filled 

 up by future observations. Whatever the utility of the 

 present report may be, very cordial thanks are due to the 

 gentlemen who have contributed various items of information, 

 especially to Captain Macdonald of Waternish, Mr Dumville 

 Lees, and Captain Cameron. My friend Mr Harvie-Brown, 

 whose acquaintance with Skye extends over twenty years, 

 lias kindly added the notes which bear his initials. 



About 153 species are recorded as occurring in Skye ; 

 Sylvia nisoria, Sitta cmsia, and Puffinus major being virtually 

 new to the Hebrides. 



Turdus viscivorus. — Eesident, but scarce in Northern Skye. 

 Mr Seebohm states that it was formerly much more plentiful, 

 its numbers having been decimated by the severe winter of 

 1879-80. 



Turdus musicus. — A prolific resident, nesting on the shrub- 

 less Ascrib Isles, and in other wild situations, but rather 

 later than in Southern Britain. I have seen the young fly in 

 Skye on May 8th, but this occurred in a walled garden. Mr 

 O. Y. Aplin, remarking on specimens I sent him, observes : — 

 " A bird in nest dress from Skye is everywhere of a slightly 

 deeper tint than Oxfordshire nestlings. In an adult from 

 the same locality (April), the brown of the upper parts has 

 less yellow in it, and is therefore colder and darker than in 

 Oxon birds, and the face and breast show much less of the 

 yellowish buff ground colour, being nearly white ; the spots 

 also appear to be darker." 



Turdus iliacus. — Winter visitant, but not in large numbers. 



Turdus pilaris. — Winter visitant ; large droves frequently 

 occurring on the vernal migration. 



Turdus merula. — Eesident in wooded districts, but more 

 numerous as a winter visitant. Many males of the year 

 arrive in November, haunting the braes above the sea and 

 other sheltered situations ; departing in March. 



Turdus torquatus. — Summer visitant, but not numerous. 

 Captain Macdonald shot a pair at Waternish one spring. Mr 

 Dumville Lees has also met with it.^ 



1 In 1886 a pair of King Ouzels nested at Waternish ; another pair reared 

 a brood on Waterstein, carrying worms to the young in my presence. 



