274 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



Gannet, Sulci bassana (L.) 



There are generally a few Gannets to be seen, as one would 

 naturally expect. They are not easy to be shot; but there is 

 a fatal way to catch them — by tying a herring to a board. I do 

 not know how long ago it was that a Gannet was found washed 

 up ashore with a gurnet wedged into its mouth so hard that it 

 had killed it — a punishment for its gluttony. I believe that it is 

 not an uncommon death among Gannets, though a highly curious 

 one. Mr Gray mentions having found several dead at Ailsa Craig 

 from this cause. (Birds of Scot., p. 4=62). 



Eider Duck, Somateria moUissima (L.) 



The two great attractions of the islands are the Eider Ducks 

 and the Sandmch Terns. The former are much the earliest to 

 arrive ; indeed, I was assured that a pair or two in female plumage 

 were to be seen all the year round. By the 5th of April they seem 

 to have all j)aired, though not to have got up on to the rocks. At 

 that season you may see an equal proportion of ducks and drakes; 

 but go there in the beginning of August, and perhaps you will not 

 see a single bird in the masculine attire. Some writers think that 

 the full colouring of the drake is not assumed until the fourth 

 moult, and that once got, it is shed no more. My opinion is that it 

 gets it the second year, and that it annually moults again into the 

 female attire ; and I ground this opinion on a example in the 

 Zoological Gardens, and on others which I have shot myself, or 

 seen in Leadenhall market. The value of this bird, in an 

 economic point of view, is very small, compared to what it is on 

 some of the Norwegian groups of islands, where, as is well known, 

 the down is collected in large quantities, and is highly valued for 

 making quilts, etc. At the Fern islands only a small quantity of 

 it is annually collected. A certain number of eggs are also 

 gathered for eating, and sold in Bamborough. 



King Duck, Somateria spedaUlis (L.) 



An adult male occurred at the Fern islands on the 14th of 

 November, 1 873, as recorded by Mr Hancock (Birds of Northumb. 

 and D'"-, p. 158). From enquiries made on the spot, I beUeve it had 

 remained about there many weeks. When first observed, it was 

 partly in female plumage. Various persons saw it, and occasion- 

 ally it was seen walking about on the island where the Eiders 



