ON THE BIRDS 01V THE ISLE OF EIGG. 415 



by the fact that several parties of Crossbills deliberately left the 

 island, on which they had probably arrived during the morning 

 hours; these squads of birds flew high, and departed with a N.E. 

 wind, apparently shaping their course across the sea to strike the 

 mainland, a point or two north of Ardnamurchan. However, a 

 few birds lingered, and at the end of the month came under the 

 notice of A. H. M., who observed them feeding on larch cones, 

 and described their call-note as " trutt — trutt." 



A Corn Bunting (Emberiza miliaria) was noticed on July 29th, 

 1888, with a malformation of both mandibles, possibly induced 

 by old age. 



About our doors Yellow Buntings (E. citrinella) may always 

 be seen, never failing to bring their young ones to share in the 

 bread crumbs daily thrown out for them. A few mossy spots 

 tempt the Heed Bunting (E. schoe nidus) to breed in Eigg, though 

 in limited numbers ; nor does the Starling increase and multiply 

 as rapidly here as in some other parts of the Plebrides. The 

 sweeping precipices that on the west side overhang Cleadale, were 

 formerly the home of a few Choughs [Pyrrhocorax graculus), now 

 exterminated, probably by the Peregrine Falcons. A single 

 Chough was observed at Laig, in August, 1876, by Mr. W. H. 

 Macpherson ; and John Macleod, a native of the island, possessed 

 a tame bird about the same time. Would that the same evil for- 

 tune had accrued to the Hooded Crows {Corvus comix) ! Usually 

 the Hoodies are content to nest in the sea-cliffs, but a pair lived 

 this year in the plantations, and a second couple obtained the 

 rights of sanctuary by nesting in the garden of the manse. In 

 1885, a few Rooks (C. frugilegus) built in the plantations ; and 

 though their design of becoming permanent settlers was speedily 

 checked, yet they constantly infest the island during August, some 

 scouring for food, and others roosting in the plantation, whence 

 they return to the mainland at daybreak. Though we dislike 

 these arrant and vulgar poachers, we desire to encourage and 

 protect the unjustly disparaged Ravens (Corvus corax). Three 

 couples of these birds reared their dusky broods at the north 

 and south extremities of Eigg this year. The Skylark nests in 

 the short heather, but in small numbers ; nevertheless, daybreak 

 is everywhere enlivened by the Cuckoo, especially on the west 

 side of Scuir. Though pellets of Owls occur in the fir-woods, 

 the only Owl that both of us have seen repeatedly is the Barn 



