226 THE ZOOLOOIST. 



BIRD LIFE ON THE ISLAND OF EIGG. 

 By J. Kirke Nash, L.D.S. (Ed.), F.Z.S. (Scot.). 



Having arranged with my friend Mr. David Hamilton to 

 visit the Island of Eigg for the purpose of observing the Manx 

 Shearwater (Pvffinus anglorum) at its nesting haunts, we landed 

 there from the s.s. ' Claymore ' at the somewhat inconvenient 

 hour of 11.30 p.m. on June 20th last and left again on the 24th, 

 when we crossed over by motor-boat to Arisaig. Anxious to 

 make the most of the few days at our disposal, we called early 

 next morning upon Mr. Glendinning, the factor on the island, 

 to whom we had an introduction, and he kindly gave us any 

 information we required regarding the nesting localities of the 

 " Fachach " — the local name for the Shearwater, and which I 

 believe means "night-bird." 



The Island of Eigg is roughly divided into two mountainous 

 portions by a valley which runs from the little bay at Kildonan 

 on the east side to the Bay of Laig on the west. The larger 

 section lying to the south-west of this valley rises to a consider- 

 able elevation, attaining a height of over 1300 ft. at the " Scuir 

 of Eigg," which forms a notable feature in the landscape. The 

 other portion of the island runs more directly north, and is 

 really the more interesting part from an ornithologist's point of 

 view. Huge basaltic cliffs on the west side surround the Bay of 

 Laig for over a mile in extent, and from their base a nearly 

 perpendicular slope descends for a great distance to the level 

 ground, on which stands the crofting township of Cleadale. 

 Bight at the top of this steep, immediately under the beetling 

 crags, the nesting-burrows of the " Fachachs " are to be found. 

 Walking along the top of these cliffs to their north-western 

 extremity, the immense height of which greatly impresses one, 

 and where a magnificent view of the Island of Bum can be 

 obtained, we slowly made our way down, which required very 

 careful footing owing to the friable nature of the rocks, and 



