176 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



in Ireland, as I am informed by Rev. Chas. W. Benson, of Dublin, 

 and others. [So also with Snipe, q.v.~\ 



RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. 



Phalaropus hyperboreus (Lin.) 

 On June 9th Sir John Orde and I saw about four pairs of Red- 

 necked Phalaropes at one locality in North Uist, and took a nest 

 with three eggs. It was believed, however, that, although some 

 were already laying, all had not arrived at their breeding haunts, 

 all species of birds being considered later this season in breeding 

 in the Outer Hebrides. 



GREY PHALAROPE. 



Phalaropus fulicarius (Lin.). 

 One of these birds was distinctly identified by Mr. A. Burn- 

 Murdoch, swimming amongst sea-weed, near the base of Ben Hiant, 

 in Loch Sunart, Ardnamurchan, on 26th September, 1879. Two 

 are recorded as shot by Mr. Hastings, Dumfries [loc. cit.] . 



COOT. 



Fulica atra, Lin. 



Coots, which are rare birds on Loch Awe, appeared in hundreds 

 a week before the final break-up of the storm. They were wild 

 and unapproachable. They crowded the loch below Taycreggan, 

 and departed in a northward direction after a few days. Mr. A. 

 Brotherston reports that in the Kelso district they did not seem 

 to fare so well as the Water-hens, which latter were very fat. [See 



Water-hen.] 



WATER-HEN. 



GrALLINULA CHLOROPUS (Lin.). 



Water-hens suffered severely from the winter. Many came 

 regularly to farm-houses and cottages to be fed while the storm 

 lasted. One at Callander, as I was informed by my friend, Mr. 

 J. H. Buchanan, " came from the Keltie to a cottage on Cambus- 

 more, and entered the house. One day the people, by way of a 

 treat, gave it some of the hot peelings of potatoes at dinner time. 

 It eat away very busily, and then lay down and died, having, 

 evidently when in a state of starvation, overeaten itself.'" Three 

 or four frequented our gardeners cottage here all through the 



