CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 165 



SCOTER. 



Case 207. 



The Scoter is common at most seasons in flocks off 

 the greater portion of our coasts. 



A few remain to breed in the northern counties of 

 Scotland, though by far the larger number of our 

 visitors are reared in the far north. 



The specimens in the case were obtained in 

 Strathmore, in Caithness, in June, 1869. 



VELVET SCOTER. 



Case 208. 



A few of these fine Ducks are occasionally seen in the 

 English Channel during winter; the numbers, however, 

 that are met with in the south have fallen off greatly 

 of late years. From October till April they may be 

 still observed in large flocks in the firths of Scotland 

 and the northern islands. 



The specimens in the case were shot at sea off 

 Hastings, in January, 1860. 



BLACK TERN.— (Summer.) 



Case 209. 



Though formerly nesting in the eastern counties the 

 Black Tern is at the present time only a visitor to our 

 shores in spring and autumn. This species is usually 

 the first of the Terns to appear in the spring, the 

 -earliest arrivals being frequently noticed in the 

 beginning of April ; I have, however, observed them 



