74 



REPORT ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



CoLUMBiDiE. — A large flock of Rock Doves is resident at Butt 

 of Lewis, and is seen daily flying inland to feed. At Kyleakin a 

 Woodpigeon was seen flying S.E. at noon on Dec. 15th, with light 

 W. wind, and clear ; at same station, on 23rd, four Rock Doves 

 flying south, wind light W.S.W. ; and at same place two more 

 flying south, with E.S.E. and haze, on Jan. 2nd. One species. 



Rallin^. — Corn Crake. — At Stornoway, first heard on May 

 2nd. At Barra Head, one seen on July 1st, var., S.E., and fog. 

 At Kyleakin, first heard on May 16th, S., clear. At Rhinns of 

 Islay, one found dead on May 23rd, light W., haze. One species. 



Charadriadje. — Spring. Oystercatchers are resident all the 

 year at Cape Wrath. At Barra Head, three pairs arrived on 

 April 10th. At M'Arthur's Head they were present all April. 



In autumn oyster catchers appeared in flocks, along with the 

 rush of land migrants, about Aug. 23rd, at Stornoway, at which 

 place they are generally seen all September. 



Golden Plover records quite absent for 1883. 



Lapwing. — Spring record at Rhu Stoir, two seen on April 

 4th. In autumn, at Kyleakin, ninety were counted flying S.E., 

 and crying loudly, with N.W. wind and haze, on Aug. 15th. 

 Eight more on 23rd, flying east, wind S.E., and haze; and at 

 Lamlash, a single bird rested on the Island on Aug. 13th. At 

 Barra Head, seventeen were seen at two p.m., light east wind, 

 and haze (direction of flight not given), on Sept. 21st; one 

 record there also in October. At Loch Ryan, a flock flying S.E., 

 on Nov. 15th, S.E. wind; and at Dhuheartach, where migration 

 appeared to cease on Dec. 29th, the last migrant seen was a 

 Lapwing, resting on the Lantern on that date. At Kyleakin 

 seven were seen flying S.W. on Jan. 4th, 1884. Two species. 



ScoLOPAciDTE. — Woodcock, Snipe, Curlew, Whimbrel. No 

 records of Woodcock till October. Then a few at Monach Island, 

 Dhuheartach, Lismore, and Loch Ryan ; and in November, at 

 Kyleakin and Lismore. Single 'fentries on 16th at Kyleakin, and 

 5th at Lismore. Two killed at Monach on Oct. 29th, one killed 

 at Dhuheartach on 31st, and three on 29th, at Lismore ; and one 

 on 31st, at Loch Ryan, showing a general movement at these dates. 



Snipe were even scarcer ; earliest Oct. 22nd, at Monach, and 

 occurring on the same dates as Woodcock, or nearly. 



Curlew. — Numerous records at most of the stations, dating 

 from Feb. 5th, at Rhuvaal, on to November. An appearance of 



