KEV. H. A. MACTIIERSOX OX THE MAXX bllEAUWATEn. 21'J 
resUny on tlio peaks of Kum, casting its shadow on tho still and 
silvered waters of the Sound of Eigg. The evening was calm, the 
tide was fidl, a Thrush was still carolling among the rocks, the 
“ twee twee ” of a family party of Twites announced that they were 
going to roost in tho grey gloaming, though the Corncrake was 
croaking hoarsely in the low meadows below us. lacking our way 
through the loose boulders, we reached a position immediately 
beneath the highest shelf (about seven to eight hundred feet), in 
which wo knew tho Shearwaters to burrow, about half-past ten, and 
listened anxiously for their cries, as we chatted quietly about their 
habits on our springy couch of heather. It was not until twenty- 
four minutes past eleven (tho evening was light enough to see 
the liands of a watch) that wo heard the first Shearwater Hying in 
from sea, calling loudly, and answered from the heights above. 
'J’en minutes later, the voices in the cliff began tori.se; another 
and another arrived from the sea, Hying apparently in nearly a 
straight line from tho priest’s house (near the beach) to tho 
cliff where the burrows were situated. The cry uttered on the 
Aving somewhat resembles the word “ cuck-cocko,” their voices 
growing in distinctness as time passes on ; others answer on the 
cliffs ; but it is from those which pass us, flying in at a good height 
on tho Aving, that the cries arc loudest. “ There is a good deal of 
noise, too,” (pioth tho man of Hocks, at ten minutes to tAveU'c. 
AjuI to judge from tho cackling and crooning overhccad, noAv rising 
tumultuously, and then lulling, the fun Avas becoming fast and 
furious. r>y midnight the performers Averc chorusing famously, 
and Avhen I left them, half an hour later, the concert Avas mcnily 
sustained. Tho shepheul volunteered to Avalk home Avith me as 
far as a steep brae, and just before Ave reached the summit, a 
Earn OavI came by, SAA'eeping Ioav OA'er the ground : his discrimina- 
tion at once identified it as a “ white cat ” ! I strolled home in 
the faint daAAui, serenaded by a sleepless Song Thrush singing in the 
hazels, a distant OavI hooting a challenge to the unabashed Corn- 
crake. 
Tho Eigg men Avith Avhom I discussed the habits of the Shear- 
Avater Avero very communicative, and told me that a fcAv 
ShearAvaters arrived in tho first month of spring, i.e., in February ; 
that prior to laying, they excavated fresh burrows, or cleaned out 
the old ones which they intended to use again, the first eggs being 
