inhabiting the County of Sutherland. 293 



the islands. The eggs were all hatched, and most of the young had be- 

 taken themselves to the neighbouring moors, where they continue till able 

 to fly, secreting themselves, when disturbed, in the highest heather. At 

 Tongue we saw some goslings about a month old (following a hen), 

 which had been hatched from eggs taken at Loch Laighal. We were told 

 that they became nearly as tame as common geese, but refuse to inter- 

 mix or breed with them. The eggs, from five to seven in number, are 

 smaller than those of the common goose, but of a similar shape and colour. 



69. Anas boschas. Common Wild-Duck or Mallard. Was seen upon 



most of the lochs and marshy moors. 70. Mareca penelope, Wigeon. 



As the Wigeon had not previously been detected breeding in Britain, 

 we were much pleased to observe several pairs upon the smaller lochs 

 near Lairg, which we concluded had their nests among the reeds and 

 other herbage which grew in their vicinity. We were not so fortunate, 

 however, as to find one here, though diligent search was made, but after- 

 wards upon one of the islands of Loch Laighal we sprung a female, which 

 we shot, from her nest, containing seven eggs. It was placed in the heart of 

 a large rush bush, and was made of decayed rushes and reeds, with a lining 

 of warm down from the bird's body. The eggs were smaller than those of the 



wild duck, and of a rich cream- white colour. 71. Fuligula marila. 



Scaup Pochard. A single female was shot by Sir William Jardine, in a small 

 loch between Loch Hope and EriboU ; she was attended by a young one, 

 which unfortunately escaped among the reeds. This is the first instance 



of its breeding in Britain having been ascertained that I am aware of. 



72. Mergus Merganser, Goosander. Two or three birds of this species 

 were seen during the excursion, but no nest or breeding station detected. 



73. M. serrator. Red-breasted Merganser. Is very plentiful upon all 



the lochs. At the time we were in Sutherland few had commenced in- 

 cubation. 74. Podiceps minor, Dobchick or Little Grd>e. Was met with 



occasionally upon the smaller lochs during the excursion. 76. Colym- 



bus glaeialis. Northern Diver. A single pair was seen in the Bay of 

 Balnikiel, mouth of the Durness Frith, both adult birds, and in perfect 

 summer plumage. It is probable that they had their nest upon one of the 



numerous islets that abound in the bay. 76. C. arcticus. Black-throated 



Diver. This beautiful species, whose breeding station had never before 

 been detected, we found upon most of the interior Sutherland lochs. The 

 first we noticed was at the foot of Loch Shin, where we were so fortu- 

 nate as to find the nest, or rather the two eggs, upon the bare ground of 

 a small islet, removed about ten or twelve feet from the water's edge. 

 The female was seen in the act of incubation, sitting horizontally, and 

 not in an upright position, upon the eggs. In plumage she precisely re- 

 sembled the male, and when fired at immediately swam, or rather dived 

 off* to him at a short distance. Our pursuit after them was, however, in- 

 effectual, though persevered in for a long time, as it was impossible to 

 calculate where they were likely to rise after diving. Submersion fre- 

 quently continued for nearly two minutes at a time, and they generally 



VOL. XX. XO. XL. APKIL 18-36. U 



