246 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



breeding birds flocking at certain localities are young birds of the 

 previous season. The grassy knolls and pastoral country round 

 one loch in particular, present extremely favourable feeding 

 grounds, perhaps better than any others in Assynt. 



The growth of the young birds taken this year was very rapid. 

 They were quite small when taken; by the 16th July few 

 remains of down were visible, while by the end of the month they 

 were beginning to fly, and the white patches on the shoulders 

 were quite conspicuous. 



BLACK SCOTER. 



OEDEMIA NIGRA (L.), 121. 



Dr Joass of the Dunrobin Museum informs me that this 

 species does breed, or at least did breed this year, within the 

 boundaries of Sutherland. In this instance, the eggs were taken 

 and both old birds shot. 



Let us here entreat that such rarities be most carefully preserved, 

 alike by proprietors and lessees of shootings. Only in very 

 exceptional cases is there any need of shooting any Scotch species 

 from its nest, in order to establish it as a breeding species in the 

 country. 



Obs. Pochard — Fuligidaferina, (L.) — Although eggs of a Duck in 

 the Dunrobin Museum are supposed to belong to this species, 

 there is want of minute and careful authentication in connection 

 with the specimens. 



BLACK-THROATED DIVER. 



COLYMBUS ARTIOUS, L. 122. 



I am glad to say that almost all the old localities still hold their 

 pair of birds, although the eggs have been taken pretty often. 

 Few, if any, are shot, and in many localities they are seldom or 

 never disturbed. Even close to the public road they breed every 

 year as formerly. 



RED-THROATED DIVER. 



COLYMBUS SEPTENTRIONALIS, Lath. 124. 



The same cannot be said of this species as of the last. Although 

 never plentiful in the Assynt district, they are even scarcer now. 



