76 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



SPATULA CLYPEATA, Shoveller. I see you (i.e. J. A. H.-B.) have 

 the wrong years for Mr. Peel shooting Shoveller in Benbecula. It 

 should be 1900-1901 ("Annals," 1902, p. 208). I saw several in 

 winter of 1894-95. But it is not in any way common. 



QUERQUEDULA CRECCA, Teal, p. 208. Very common, and I 

 think on the increase as a nesting species. They have, however, 

 always nested, in my experience, in Benbecula and South Uist. 1 



DAFILA ACUTA, Pintail, p. 209. Very numerous in Benbecula 

 this year. Very few to be seen in South Uist. I shall be very 

 much interested to see if any breed here this year (1903). 



MARECA PENELOPE, Wigeon. Very numerous this season 

 (1902-3). Never heard of nor saw any nesting in these islands. 



FULIGULA MARILA, Scaup, p. 105. I am very pleased that it is 

 beyond doubt that some breed in South Uist. I trust they will 

 continue to do so. I have shot them in Benbecula for years back, 

 but they are not common there. It is very strange they are not to 

 be found in North Uist. Mr. Peel's statement ("Annals," 1902, 

 p. 210) that it is "seen occasionally in South Uist" does not agree 

 with my experience, for it is by no means rare. 



FULIGULA FERINA, Pochard, p. 105. I cannot believe that the 

 " Pochards " shot in Barra by Mr. Peel were bred there, as it is the 

 last place in which birds of that class would breed. There is no 

 place on the loch where they could breed, and the surrounding is 

 so much overrun with people. I saw some in South Uist during 

 the summer months, but seemingly they did not breed. They are 

 fairly numerous this season. The largest flock is close to Grogary. 

 There will be about 150 or so, but on the whole they are decreasing 

 every winter. 



FULIGULA CRISTATA, Tufted Duck. More numerous this winter 

 than for some years back. So far as I can learn, MacGillivray was 

 right when he spoke of them as plentiful in his time, but it got very 

 scarce here for a number of years back. Perhaps it will revive again. 



CLANGULA GLAUCION, Golden Eye, p. 106. Are not nearly so 

 numerous anywhere on this estate as they were some years ago. 

 Certainly they are far from rare. It is quite common in Barra. 

 On every loch in winter there are a few. 



SOMATERIA MOLLISSIMA, Eider Duck. Very much on the increase, 

 as it nests on all the sea lochs connected with the Minch on the 

 east side of South Uist, and formerly none could be seen there. 

 The first year I was here an Eider Duck was a great rarity nearer 

 than the Sound of Barra. 



(EDEMIA FUSCA, Velvet Scoter, p. 109. Fairly numerous on 

 the West Coast of the Islands. 



1 Mr. Guthrie has been keeper on these islands for now nearly twenty years. 



