In 1933, University College, Dundee (The University of
St Andrews) carried out a survey of the natural history of Rona. This was
achieved during two expeditions: the first took place July 2-17th 1933,
led by Dr Edith Philip Smith and Mr CF Davidson. The second expedition followed
on July 17th - 31st, led by Professor AD Peacock and CF Davidson. As Professor
Peacock described in his narrative that prefaced the survey published in The Scottish Naturalist in 1934:
“the idea of
making this expedition to the Inner
Hebridean Island of South Rona was due to Messrs C. F. Davidson and W. Keir,
two senior students, and it was their representations to staff and students
in the biological departments which finally brought their idea to fruition.
The scientific aims of the expedition were:(i)
to provide students with an exercise in
ecological work; (2) to make such an ecological survey as time and
opportunity permitted ; (3) to obtain material for purposes of teaching and
research
In addition to
the information about Rona’s natural history"
Many photographs were taken which give a wonderful glimpse into life on the island at that time when the population had dwindled to just three. Christopher, James and Flora Macrae lived at Rona Lodge at this time. We are grateful to Dundee University for their cooperation in allowing us to reproduce some of them here. Also, special thanks to Rob Ward (Yacht Tub) for his detective work in finding them. Unfortunately reels of cine film mentioned in their report were not found.
This cartoon, depicting the people who carried out the survey, was drawn by
the expedition artist, Colin Gibson
