2H ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



VELVET SCOTER (CEdemia fused), p. 109. A Velvet Scoter was 

 found dead on the Luscantire shore in South Harris in spring 1896. 

 It was sent to Mr. W. L. MacGillivray by Mr. Wilson, solicitor and 

 factor for South Harris. 



As long ago as 1890 I received a letter from Mr. George 

 Stoddart long-time shepherd at Newton in which he told me of 

 " Black Ducks with bright orange bills " seen in the western part of 

 the Sound of Harris. I have not to date ascertained whether there 

 has been any increase in the numbers seen now or not, but expect 

 to hear before long. Since the above was penned, Sir Arthur 

 Campbell Orde informs me that seven or eight were seen on 

 January 22, 1892, "near Boreray." l 



RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (Afergus serrator\ p. in. In 

 connection with the remarks in our " Fauna of the Outer Hebrides " 

 on the rare occurrence of this bird in St. Kilda, notice is taken in 

 Mr. Young's note-books. These notes tell me that Mr. Mackenzie, 

 the factor, is most positive that it has never been found breeding 

 there, and only one or two specimens have ever been seen or 

 obtained ; and one obtained by a native was looked upon as a great 

 curiosity (Journals of the late Mr. J. Young ; and C. Dixon in " Ibis," 

 1885, p. 87). 



GOOSANDER (Afergus merganser), p. no. It may now be 

 recorded as an addition to the Fauna of the Outer Hebrides. Mr. 

 Radclyffe Waters mentions "a young male, just assuming full 

 plumage, shot on October 26, 1895, while fishing in a burn, and 

 with four or five small trout in its gullet. This was at the end of a 

 week of very bad weather northerly wind with rain, hail, and snow 

 every day. Apparently the first specimen actually obtained in The 

 Lews or the Outer Hebrides. The bird has been preserved." 



Mr. M'Elfrish writes me as follows : " Since I saw your book, for 

 the first time, I have been on the look-out for this bird all the year 

 round, but I have not seen one in these islands. I know the bird 

 quite well, having seen it on the River Forth, and having handled 

 specimens shot by my father." I may add it is extremely unlikely 

 that Goosanders would breed in a treeless land like the Outer 

 Hebrides before the great areas of far more suitable country on the 

 mainland were fully occupied. Mr. C. V. A. Peel considers it 

 "comparatively rare," speaking of it generally. 



[SMEW (Afergus albellus), p. 112. Though hitherto holding a 

 somewhat precarious position in the Fauna of the Outer Hebrides, 

 on the strength of a single record, I think the following account 

 deserving of being included. Mr. C. V. A. Peel writes : " Mr. C. B. 

 Poulton, my shooting companion, called my attention to two ducks 



1 Boreray of the Sound of Harris ; not to be confounded with the island of the 

 same name of the St. Kilda groups. 



