310 Mn. HARVIE-BROWN ON PRIEST ISLAND AND ITS BIRD LIFE. 
III. . 
PEIEST ISLAND AND ITS BIRD LIFE. 
By J. a. Harvie-Brown, F.R.S.E., E.Z.S. 
(Member of the British Ornithologists’ Union). 
Read 'i^th April, 1886. 
Priest Island is shown upon sheet No. 101 of the Pinch 
Ordnance Survey Maps. It will he seen on examination that 
it is as nearly as possible one mile in length from north to south, 
and almost exactly the same in breadth, from east to west. It may 
be said to form the outermost island of the group of the Summer 
Isles of Cromarty, though forming, politically, a part of Rosshire. 
Priest Island is somewhat difficult of access, and not an easy 
island to land upon if there be the least swell upon the ocean. 
We visited it from Gruinard Baj^, in Rosshire, on a long summer 
day, when there Avas scarcely a breath of air, and our men had to 
row most of the long way from the entrance to Gruinard Bay; 
so calm Avas it that Ave landed Avith perfect ease on perhaps the 
most exposed part of its very exposed coast-line. Sir Donald 
Munro mentions this island as Eilean na-clerache, Avhich name 
appears on the map also. lie says (p. 55) : — “ NortliAA-art fra this 
ile (e. g. Grwynorde), lyes an ile callit Elian Naclerache, an halfe 
mile lange, guid for gerssing and Avyld foAvls eggs, perteining to 
M’Enzie.” 
On July 4th, 1884, a fishing friend and myself, accompanied by 
our good friend Mr. D. Murray, of Gruinard House, and three 
sturdy highland boatmen, started early in the morning for the 
distant Priest Island. Eor nearly a month Ave had been resident in 
the Iron House on the River Gruinard ; but iiotAV'ithstanding an 
even Aoav of Avater and good angling Aveather, aa’o all three had 
