The Summer Birds of SheiJancl 549 



as rare as those of the swallow. It occasionally breeds, 

 however. 



25. Eockdove {Columhct livia), (Doo). — Very numerous 

 wherever there are suitable caves ; all those I saw were pure 

 bred birds, tame pigeons not being kept in large numbers in 

 Shetland. The nests are invariably very difficult to reach — 

 usually built in the roofs of sea-caves. One nest I got was 

 placed in a rather curious position. While walking along 

 the cliffs of Papa-Stour I saw a rockdove dart up apparently 

 from the ground about 70 yards from the edge of the cliff. 

 On going to the spot, however, I found she had come from, a 

 hole in the rock, at the bottom of which, about 150 feet 

 below, the sea could be dimly seen. About 10 feet down 

 this crevice, which was about 2 feet w^de at the top ; a large 

 stone was firmly wedged, and on it the pigeon's nest, contain- 

 ing a half-grown young bird and an egg, suspended, as it 

 w^ere, in mid-air. 



26. Eed Grouse (Lagopus Scoticus). — Several attempts have 

 been made to introduce the red grouse into Shetland, but all 

 without success. The first, as far as I can learn, took place 

 about 1858, when Mr D. D. Black of Keri>ord, at the head 

 of Weisdale Voe, imported a number, at the same time plant- 

 ing a large quantity of Norway firs (said to have been as many 

 as 40,000), to afford shelter to the birds. As usual, however, 

 the trees died, and the grouse gradually disappeared ; a few 

 breeding in the locality, however, for a number of years, as 

 about 1872 three young birds were brought to the late Dr 

 Scott of Melby, which had been caught by a woman on 

 Sandness Hill. The distance from Kergord in a direct line 

 to this locality is about 12 miles. Since that date nothing- 

 more has been heard of Mr Black's importation. The next 

 attempt w^as made in 1882 by John Harrison, Esq. of 

 Windhouse, in Yell, who got a consignment of about 40 sent 

 over from Scotland. Unfortunately, however, all died in 

 transit except one pair, which nested. Next year Mr 

 Harrison procured five other pairs, and in 1885 the number 

 of grouse in the. islands was three coveys in Yell, one in 

 Unst, and one in Northmavine. They seem to be quite 

 extinct now, however, for the latest information I can [.rather 



