THE BIRDS OF CUMBERLAND. 115 



Mr. G. Holmes informs us that, when punt 

 shooting on the Solway, in winter, he has more than 

 once observed the Velvet Scoter ; and we have 

 notes of supposed Velvet Scoters shot elsewhere, 

 but Mr. Mackenzie's bird is the only authenticated 

 specimen known to us. 



Mr. J. J. Armistead informed Mr. Harvie Brown 

 that he had observed several Velvet Scoters on the 

 Solway during June, July, and August, 1882 ; but 

 Mr. Armistead's observations refer to the Scotch 

 side of the Solway, where Scaups and Scoters are 

 reputed to be much more plentiful than on the 

 English side. (Migration Report, 1883, p. 62.) 



In the lake district, the late Dr. Gough recorded 

 a male Velvet Scoter shot on Windermere lake, on 

 May 23rd, 1848, by Mr. L. Watson of Ecclerigg, a 

 female being seen at the same time (Zool., 1848, 

 p. 2230). The specimen was retained by Mr. Clowes 

 of Bowness. 



(E. Perspicillata. Surf Scoter. 



The Surf Scoter is an accidental visitant from 

 north America. An adult male was shot, by a 

 farm servant, on November 2nd, 1856, whilst diving 

 in a pond at Crofton. [T. Armstrong, Naturalist, 

 1857, p. 250.) This rare specimen was secured 

 for the collection of Mr. T. C. Heysham. At the 

 Heysham sale, in May, 1859, it was ^^urchased 

 by Mr. J. H. Gurney, who had it re-stuffed by 

 Leadbeater. It has remained ever since in Mr. 

 Gurney's collection. (/. H. Gurney, junr., in lit.) 

 This is the Surf Scoter inadvertently included by 



