6o THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



Increase and Decrease of Birds in the Ross of Mull. — 



During a visit to the Ross of Mull from 4th October to iQth 

 December 192 1, I revisited, in search of bird-life, some of the haunts 

 familiar to me when I was stationed at Dhuheartach Lighthouse 

 from 1893 to 1901. I found it interesting to compare the numbers 

 of birds there now with the numbers in the same places a quarter 

 of a century ago. On lotb October in a distance of two miles 

 southwards I counted six pairs of Common Buzzards, whereas 

 during my residence here I had not a single record of a Buzzard 

 for this part of Mull. On making enquiries from crofters and 

 small-holders I found that during the breeding season Buzzards 

 are now very numerous, and this I can corroborate from the old 

 eyries found. 



On 12th October I saw a pair of Peregrine Falcons, which still 

 occupied the same old eyrie as in former years. Falcons in 

 possession of this nest have often been destroyed, yet, as soon as 

 nesting time arrives, another pair takes up its abode in the same 

 place. Another pest which, according to the crofters, has greatly 

 increased, is the Hoodie Crow. These I found very numerous, 

 and the natives make great complaints of their depredations — even 

 the fowls have to be protected. In former years they were kept well 

 in hand : I can remember when there were only two Hoodies' 

 nests in the locality. This year I found a great many old nests, 

 almost every bush growing from rock clefts contained one. 



On 4th November I visited several caves which used to be 

 inhabited by lots of Rock Pigeons ; now I found them full of 

 Starlings. Next day I saw great numbers of Hedge Sparrows, I 

 used to think Little Ross gardens well populated, but the numbers 

 were nothing to these. In the evenings Rooks passed in large 

 numbers, coming from the island of lona, where they feed all day 

 in the fields, returning at the close of day to the south of Mull, 

 where the nearest woods are. This species, also, is increasing in 

 numbers here. Three pairs of Kestrels used to nest on Erraid ; 

 now Kestrels breed all round the island. 



Although I travelled over miles of moorland daily I did not see 

 a single Grouse. They, along with the Partridge, seem to be absent, 

 in winter time at anyrate, from the district. The inhabitants, of 

 course, put this down to the great increase of winged vermin. — 

 William Begg, Leith. 



