52 
NATURE NOTES. 
Hebrides. The Buzzard, on the other hand, is either rare or 
totally a-wanting in the outer islands, though it breeds in Skye,. 
Mull, Inra and probably Islay. The Hen-harrier, last of the 
common British nobler birds of prey, is found in probably all the 
larger islands of the Hebrides. On the moors of North Uist I 
have found four different nests in a single day. 
In addition to the birds already named there are, of course, 
many others belonging to the same group which are certainly 
British, but they are of too rare occurrence to necessitate 
special mention at present. 
The ceaseless persecution to which our nobler British birds 
of prey have so long been subjected, has sadly thinned the 
numbers of all and brought some of them perilously near the 
verge of extinction. 
Save for one or two eyries in the west of Invernesshire the Os- 
prey has now completely disappeared, while our two native Eagles 
are gradually dwindling in numbers even in their most favourite 
haunts. Were it not for the extreme shyness of the White-tailed 
Eagle, and the protection extended to it by many gamekeepers 
for the sake of its eggs, this noble bird would in all probability 
have already become extinct. The Hen-harriers, too, will very 
soon be completely exterminated, unless their shameless 
massacre be in some way prevented. As this bird returns daily 
to the same spot to feed, it is the easiest of all the birds of prey 
to shoot. In one year alone over fifty were, to my personal 
knowledge, killed in the Outer Hebrides by agents of dealers 
and so-called “ sportsmen.” The most generally persecuted 
bird, however, is the beautiful Peregrine Falcon. Throughout 
the whole of the west of Scotland it is mercilessly slaughtered. 
During a holiday tour in Skye, an English clergyman shot 
thirteen, his plea being, “ They do look so beautiful when 
stuffed ! ” 
Eagles and Hawks, it is true, do occasionally help them- 
selves to a few young lambs and grouse, but the number killed 
for that reason is very small compared with those destroyed 
wantonly or for sake of gain. 
Lists of prices that will be given for the skins and eggs of 
various birds are secretly circulated by rapacious dealers among 
gamekeepers and peasantry. The result of offering as much as 
£\^ to a half-starving villager for a single egg of the Osprey or 
Golden Eagle, can well be imagined. Such a practice, unless 
promptly suppressed, must soon lead to the complete exter- 
mination of these noble birds. 
James Clark. 
