90. Sept. 19th, four, flying S.W., light E.
Eider Ducks at Rhu Stoir, Dhuheartach, and Rhinns of Islay. Three at first named locality on April 14th; light S., haze and rain. Six on May 26th; strong S.W., passing north. Sixteen on June 30th, passing north, with light var., and clear. Then at Dhuheartach, the first seen this season was on Oct. 12th, in autumn migration, and at Rhinns of Islay, three seen during a S.W. gale. At Dhuheartach again, twenty males and twenty females, seen fishing round the rock, during strong W.N.W. wind, and clear on Dec. 7th. Two species.
Columbidæ.—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.
Rallinæ.—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.
Charadriadæ.—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.
Scolopacidæ.—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 entries 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.