A Vertebrate Fauna of the Outer Hebrides (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1888 edition. Excerpt: ... Class 2. aves. Sub-class aves C A R1N A T /E. Series egithognathe. Order 1. passeres. Sub-order oscines. Section 1. oscines dentirostres. Family turdid-si. Sub-family turdink. Turdus viscivorus, L. Missel Thrush. Gaelic--Smeorach, a name applied to Thrushes generally, but to the Song Thrush (7'. music-its) specially: Smeorah-mhor= large Thrush: Scriocluig=the screecher: Cvllionag=the holy bird.--A. C. There appears to be no record whatever of this species throughout the Outer Hebrides, until we find Prof. Duns's statement that it "appears in winter, and is commoner in summer than the Redwing." Although Prof. Duns correctly states that six species of Tmdidie occur in Lewis, there seems to be some confusion as to the occurrence of the Missel Thrush and Redwing. Through all our returns of Migration Schedules we cannot find a single entry which could be unhesitatingly put down to this species. Turdus musicus, L. Song Thrush. Gaelic--Ltstag: Smeorach.--A. C. Has apparently always been recorded as common, from MacGillivray's time downwards, and by all observers as a breeding species. It is well known all over the Hebrides by its Gaelic name, and is marked as "permanently resident" by Gray. Ehves considered it extremely common in Harris and Lewis, but less so in Uist, with which remark we quite agree. The shelter and nature of the ground in Harris and Lewis suit them better, and, as Elwes rightly remarks, there is there more molluscous food. In 1881 we found them nesting among the heather, close to Loch Hamanaway, on the west of Lewis, often miles away from houses; and around Stornoway they were very abundant amongst the young woods, as certified by many earlier records. We find a note in our journal that on the 13th