THE BIRDS OF lONA AND MULL. 227 



and the boat stands out into deep water, and the land begins to 

 diminish astern, as long as we can distinguish tlie white sandy bays 

 and the green turf beyond, we still hear the jubilant chorus of many 

 larks filling the air above, though growing fainter and fainter as the 

 sea breeze now fairly fills the sail and the boat settles down to 

 her work. At such a time it is almost impossible to refrain from 

 bursting out into song one's self, or shouting or doing something to 

 demonstrate the exulting feeling of sympathy with the scene around, 

 which thrills within one's breast and circulates in one's veins, and 

 must find vent. 



Though remaining through winter, the larks are more plentiful 

 in summer. 



The Common Wee.v. 



Gaelic, DreoUan, which also signifies a silly person, or fool, which is not at all 

 applicable to the little wren, though the word is singularly like the French 

 un drdle, a funny, comical person — a rogue. 



We have plenty of wrens frequenting the gardens and the neighbour- 

 hood of our houses and byres. They are commonly seen flitting about 

 on the dry stone dykes, and when startled they frequently disappear 

 into one of the interstices and emerge again some paces further on 

 with a merry little chirp, most tantalising to any dog or cat which 

 may have been pursuing. 



The Bullfinch. 

 Is found on the mainland of Argyll. 



The Chaffinch. 



Is very common, yet I have never seen them on the smaller islands 

 nor in Mull, though they may visit the more cultivated island of 

 Islay." 



The Cuckoo. 



Cuach, the Gaelic name of cuckoo, is derived from the bird's cry ; but the same 

 word also means boiol, whence the low country word qiiairh. 



At the usual time of year the welcome sound of the cuckoo's cry 

 is heard in all the moorlands, peat mosses, and broken land, half scrub 



1 Saw large flocks of males in the stubble fields on the east of Mull in the 

 autumn of 1S86.— C. W. G. 



