120 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



of the county, being perhaps more common north and east of Loch 

 Shin than elsewhere. In the west it is extremely rare, if not 

 altogether absent. I have not met with it there, nor are the natives 

 well acquainted with it. Sir W. Milner seems to have observed 

 a considerable number in 1847, and to have considered it quite a 

 common species in both Sutherland and Ross. It was first 

 discovered breeding in Great Britain by Mr Selby and his party, 

 who observed " various pairs " in different parts of the county. 

 An excellent description of the nest of the Widgeon will be found, 

 from the pen of Mr Selby, in Hewitson's "Eggs of British Birds," 

 1856, Vol. ii., p. 412. Mr J. Crawford writes that they are 

 frequently observed on some marshy ground between Tongue 

 and Loch Eriboll, and these birds doubtless breed in that 

 neiofhbourhood. 



The eggs of the Widgeon are recognizable from most duck's eggs. 

 They are midway in size between those of the Teal and those of 

 the Wild Duck, and bear a close resemblance, save in size, to the 

 type of the former, being of glossy texture, and of a fine creamy 

 white colour. No tinge of green is discernible, except perhaps in 

 very abnormal layings, as in the case of the Teal's eggs men- 

 tioned below. Peculiar lines are often to be seen in the texture of 

 the shell, like those sometimes observable in polished slabs of white 

 marble, giving to the eggs the appearance of being cracked.* 



TEAL. 



QUERQUEDULA CREOCA (Linnaeus). 



Tolerably abundant, and returning more regularly to the same 

 locality to breed year after year than the W^idgeon does. I could 

 always make sure of a nest of eggs on an island in a certain 

 small tarn about ten yards square. There is one laying in my 

 cabinet taken at this locality, the eggs of which are of a decided, 

 though very delicate green colour, without any trace whatsoever 

 of a creamy tint, as is usual in eggs of this species. 



Obs. Scaup Duck, Fuligula marila (Linnaeus). — Mr Selby writes 

 as follows : — *' A single female was shot by Sir W. Jardine on a 

 small loch between Lochs Hope and Eriboll ; she was attended by 



* Since the ahove was first written, Mr Thomas Mackenzie has informed me 

 that Widgeons have become much more mimerous in the breeding season, of late 

 years, and that in 1874 great numbers of nests were found. 



