A NA TID/E—D UCKS. 



209 



Diver." Mr. Hope says it is common on our coasts, arriving rather later in the 

 autumn than the Tufted Duck and Scaup. At Harwich it is fairly common in 

 winter (Kerry). 



White-eyed Duck : Nyroca ferricginea. 



An uncommon spring and winter visitor to Britain ; most often 

 met with on the East Coast. It has, doubtless, occurred from time 

 to time in Essex, but I have only one actual record. 



A specimen (sex uncertain) taken in the iVlarsh House Decoy, Tillingham, 

 about ten years ago, is preserved at the Marsh House, where, through Mr. 

 Page's kindness, I have inspected it. It is the only specimen known to have been 

 taken thereabouts. 



Long-tailed Duck : Harelda glacialis. 



An uncommon winter visitor only to the Essex Coast. 



Henry Doubleday -, _ 



says (10) he saw 

 one in 1832 in a 

 Collection at Col- 

 chester, obtained on 

 the adjacent coast. 

 Yarrell says (14. iii. 

 166) : " It is con- 

 sidered a rare bird, 

 but has been killed 

 on the coasts of 

 Kent, Essex, Suf- 

 folk, and Norfolk." 

 One was shot at 

 Mersea Island, dur- 

 ing the severe win- 

 ter of 1837-38 (19. 

 34). Mr. Hope, 

 who has a pair in 

 summer plumage, 

 killed at Maldon in Feb., 1879, and a female in full plumage killed at Harwich 

 on Nov. gth, 1887, says : " Young birds are common every winter." At Harwich 

 it is rare (Kerry). About the middle of Nov., 1887, one was shot at Southend 

 by Mr. J. M. Burton (29. Nov. 19 ; <S:4i. ii. 12). Another was shot there in the 

 winter of 1860-61 (23. 7386). 



Eider Duck : Somateria mollissima. 

 An uncommon winter visitor only to the Essex Coast. 

 A couple of males shot at Maldon on Jan. 3rd, 1865, were at first supposed 

 to be King Ducks (29. Jan. 14). Another female shot on the Blackwater, near 

 Maldon, on Oct. 23rd, 1875, was also recorded as a King Duck (29. Nov. 6th, 

 20th, & Dec. nth ; & 34. 4766), a mistake afterwards corrected. Mr. A. H. 

 Norman shot three out of a party of four near Southend during the severe weather 

 in Dec, 1875 (29. Dec. 25). Dr. Bree records an immature male shot at Mersea 

 on Dec. 19. 1867 (29. Jan. 4). Round Harwich, it is " rare," though two have 



P 



LONG-TAlLELi DUCKS, male a7id female, %. 



