412 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



ON THE BIRDS OF THE ISLE OF EIGG. 

 By A. H. Macphkkson, B.A., and H. A. Macpherson, M.A. 



Strangers wlio scan this island from the decks of the numerous 

 steamers which ply between Oban and the Gairloch, usually offer 

 a few speculations on the famous Scuir Rock, which like a 

 couching lion crowns its southern summit. Their curiosity 

 sometimes induces them to enquire the whereabouts of the Mac- 

 donald's cave ; but here their enquiries cease, and they pursue 

 their journey imagining that Eigg is a fine island, capable of 

 pasturing many black-faced sheep, but certainly of no special 

 interest to the public at larj.e. Nor is this surprising, for it is 

 only when the island has been traversed on foot in all directions, 

 that the mind becomes sensible of the immense variety of phy- 

 sical beauties here massed together within a comparatively small 

 area. North and south, sweeping precipices of igneous formation 

 roll down to a low shingly beach, or drop sheer into deep water, 

 in which Seals (Phoca vitidina) may often be seen. 



Turning inland, we wander over long stretches of purple 

 heather and meadows crowded with summer flowers ; or visit the 

 lochs where trout are leaping, far away from even shepherd's 

 shieling. 



Such conditions as these are eminently favourable to both muir- 

 fowl and seafowl, but at first sight there does not seem to be much 

 cover for the smaller laud birds. Fortunately, on the eastern 

 exposure, the nakedness of the land in this respect is hidden by a 

 luxuriant growth of mixed timber, which, though planted within 

 recent years, has already assumed fair proportions. 



This being the general appearance of the island, it only 

 remains to say, before proceeding to describe its avifauna, that 

 Eigg is separated by a narrow strait from Rum on the west, and 

 is distant from Arisaig, on the opposite mainland, some ten 

 miles ; and secondly, that our information consists of personal 

 observations, recorded in our note-books during various short 

 summer visits to the island, chiefly during the last seven years. 



Long protection has encouraged many species to haunt the 

 grounds of the proprietor. On his gables we have heard the Song 

 Thrush singing nightly ; Blackbirds are attracted by ripening 

 fruit in the kitchen-garden close by, and even the shy Ring Ouzel 



