1891. Scotland.
Sept 4
(No 3)
Trip to Iona and Staffa.
Scotland.
Oban. - one hundred or more cormorants (the 
grater number P. graculus but a few P. carbo)
and three Gannets, all old (white) birds.
  On some comparatively low points and small
islands near the N.W. extremity of Mull
where the shores were piled with great, rounded,
water-worn boulders of a yellowish or terra cotta
color a few Curlew, probably Whimbrel, were scattered about singly
among the rocks. They appeared to be very
shy rising far in advance of a steamer
and usually crossing a wide space of water
to the next point or island before realighting.
They were the only wading birds seen diving
the day except two large flocks of Oyster
Catchers which we disturbed on a low pebbly
beach on the south side of Mull.
  Of course I got only a very faint idea of
either species under these conditions but
the Curlew impress me as strongly
resembling our N. hudsonicus in general
appearance and flight while the Oyster
Catchers also recalled our species vividly
although they showed very much more
white while flying.
  The only land birds seen on Iona were a
great number of Rooks accompanied by a
few Jackdaws which flew about overhead
and a single Carrion Crow which also came
to have a look at us. The latter, as on former
occasions, impressed me as resembling most
closely the Raven despite the fact that it