NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 183 



bated. The embryo fully confirmed the species. The gamekeeper 

 had taken two eggs from the nest on the previous Monday. Both 

 Mr. Gibson and I saw the bird fly off the nest, which it did not do 

 until we were within ten yards of it. The eggs measure from 



Much cry was made in a local paper about the taking of this 

 nest of eggs. For scientific purposes — the evidence of an extension 

 of the breeding range of any species — I hold that naturalists are 

 quite entitled to take birds' eggs, on ground where they have 

 liberty to do so from the proprietor, and especially such as those 

 of our rarer Ducks, which are known to be extending their distri- 

 bution, and where it is advisable to record these steps of advance. 

 Where the discovery is put to a useful scientific purpose, Ave cannot 

 regret the act, and the act is necessary if the record is ever to be 

 of any real value afterwards. 



Obs. — It appears desirable that attention be paid to the late 

 stay, in spring, of Scoters and Velvet Scoters upon our coasts. 

 [See also remarks on this head by Mr. E. Gray, Proc. Bene. Nat. 

 Club, viii., pp. 75 and 501.] 



EIDER DUCK. 



SOMATERIA MOLLISSJMA (Llll.J. 



Commenced paying their spring visits on the Berwickshire 

 coast much about the usual time,, but in small parties [Jas. 

 Hardy, in lit., 5th Feb., 1879]. Eider Ducks common on Berwick- 

 shire coast [J. BE., in lit., 9th March, 1879]. Seven males and 

 seven females off the coast of Berwick, at Cockburnspath, 4th April 

 [J. H., in lit, 4th April, 1879]. 



TUFTED DUCK. 



FULIGULA CRISTATA (LeachJ. 



An immature female, unable to fly, was shot on Hoselaw Loch, 

 by Mr. A. Roberton, on the 20th August, 1879. Hoselaw Loch 

 is between two and three miles from Yetholm Loch, as I am 

 informed by Mr. A. Brotherston, of Kelso, who preserved the 

 specimen. [For account of the breeding of the Tufted Duck of 

 late years in the South of Scotland, see " Zoological Notes " by 

 Mr. Brotherston, in Proc. Berw. Nat. Club, p. 521.] A Tufted 

 Duck was found frozen to the ice near Kelso \op. cit.]. 



