THE ZOOLOGIST 



No. 224.— August, 1895. 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE FAUNA OF ST. KILDA. 

 By J. Steele Elliott. 



These notes are written as a further addition to those 

 printed in ' The Zoologist ' and ' The Ibis,' principally con- 

 tributed by Sir W. Milner, Capt. Elwes, and Mr. C. Dixon. 

 They extend over a stay on the island of some three weeks 

 during the early part of June, 1894. Although there are a few 

 items of more than ordinary interest, little in addition could 

 be gleaned from the natives respecting birds seen during the 

 migration and winter periods, owing chiefly to the difficulty of 

 their speaking only Gaelic. Although they have some notion of 

 how to skin any strange species obtained, owing to the want of a 

 gun on the island rarities are seldom secured. The minister of the 

 island cannot be said to render much service to the ornithologist, 

 for he does not profess to know anything beyond what relates to 

 the common breeding species on the islands. 



Regarding the Mammalia, the list is certainly a small one ; 

 but I feel sure it is nevertheless as complete as it can be made 

 at present. 



Mammalia. 



Common Mouse. — Nine specimens in all were taken, princi- 

 pally young ones, caught at the manse. It seems fairly numerous 

 among the dwellings. 



Long-tailed Field Mouse. — Unfortunately only one speci- 

 men was obtained, trapped near the top of a high stone wall. 

 The coloration of this specimen was very handsome. Instead of 

 the reddish brown fur on the back it was more inclined to grey, 



ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XIX. — AUGUST, 1895. Z 



