Water Rat, or Water Vole (Arvicola amphibius).—Mr O. H. Mackenzie says this rat is not uncommon, though rarely seen.
Long-Tailed Field-Mouse (Mus sylvaticus).—This creature, which is not a vole but a veritable mouse, is found about gardens in Gairloch, where it eats the bulbs of the crocus, tulip, &c. Mr O. H. Mackenzie tells me that he has actually found this mouse (February 1885) inside the house at Tournaig eating fruit on the shelves.
Short-tailed Field-Mouse (Arvicola agrestis).—It is common enough, and is found in corn-fields.
Shrew (Corsira vulgaris).—The common shrew-mouse is quite common. Cats will not eat them. The shrew lives on worms.
Water-Shrew (Crossopus fodiens).—The pretty little black water-shrew is not often seen. Mr O. H. Mackenzie gave me a specimen on 13th October 1885.
Mole (Talpa Europæa).—The mole is now very abundant, but was quite unknown in Gairloch twenty years ago, and no one can tell how it came here. No doubt the mole does good, but it is very annoying to see a newly-sown patch of vegetables or flower-seeds destroyed all along the top of the underground path of the mole.
Bat (Pleiotus communis).—The common bat is frequent. Only the common small kind is found in Gairloch. It is seen near woods and houses on calm evenings.
Seal (Phoca vitulina).—The common seal is often noticed in Gairloch and Loch Ewe, especially near the mouths of streams. They do not breed here.
Porpoise (Phocœna communis).—The porpoise is not uncommon in the sea lochs of Gairloch. I have known one approach close to Poolewe, at the head of Loch Ewe, no doubt attracted by shoals of herring which were then in the loch.
Whale, Shark, and Grampus.—Occasionally a whale, shark, or grampus is observed off the coast of Gairloch.