200 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



The EtDER, Somateria iiwllissima moUissiina. — This species was 

 unusually scarce about the shores of East Fife and the Isle of May 

 during January and February, and gradually increased in numbers 

 during March, till by the end of that month it was present in its 

 accustomed abundance (i. 1915, 116). On 8th May two males and 

 four females were seen flying south-east past Burrow Head (Wig- 

 townshire), and a flock of about twenty-five were in Largo Bay on 

 27th June. 



None was to be seen about the Isle of May on ist August; in 

 September a few are noted at this station, but on 8th October we 

 have this record, "the Eider have disappeared," and the only other 

 note from the Isle of May for this year is of a flock of fourteen on 

 19th December. On 3rd October a flock of about a hundred and 

 eighty is reported from the Butt of Lewis, and on 20th October 

 "large numbers, mostly young males, arrived for the winter at 

 Rattray Head." 



The Black Scoter, Oidemia nigra ?iigra. —Th.\s duck is reported 

 fairly regularly up to 29th April, and "enormous flocks" were 

 observed in St Andrews Bay on 7th May. On 6th July a flock of 

 eighteen were seen in Largo Bay, hundreds in the Dornoch Firth on 

 29th July, and another flock in Largo Bay on 31st August. 



The Velvet Scoter, Oidemia fusca fusca. — On 6th May an 

 adult male was found dead on Luce Sands, and some were in St 

 Andrews Bay next day. On 31st July two were observed in Largo 

 Bay, some in the Dornoch Firth on 30th August, and three at Little 

 Ross on 31st October. 



The Goosander, Mergus merganser merganser. — Last seen in 

 the Tay Estuary on 28th March and reappeared there on 17th 

 October, while an adult pair were seen on Soulseat Loch on 2nd 

 December. 



The Merganser, Mergus serrafor. — Some movement is reported 

 during March and April. A male on Mochrum Loch (Wigtown- 

 shire) on 6th May, a female at St Andrews next day, six on Luce 

 Sands on 15th May, and one at Deerness, Orkney, on 7th June. 

 In autumn a good deal of movement is noted between 5th Sep- 

 tember and 28th October. 



The Smew, Mergus alhellus. — An adult male and two females 

 are reported from Loch Ewe (W. Ross) on loth January. See 

 p. 152. 



