MERGUS SERRATOR. 635 
eggs were damp and had not been sat upon. I saw Mergansers 
frequently. I have a note of them on Loch Eriboll, and on the 
island of Calva we saw three, and some of their eggs broken. I also 
saw them in Shetland and Ferde. ; 
§ 5895. Two.—Orkney, 1850. From Mr. George Harvey of 
Stromness. 
These have the bird’s name in Harvey’s writing on them. I must 
constantly make enquiries as to Goosanders’ breeding in the north 
of our country. The eggs of the Merganser are found very 
commonly in Orkney and Shetland. 
§ 5896. Twelve.—Orkney, 1851. From Mr. George Harvey. 
Out of twenty-eight—but several of them broken. ‘Two or three 
are written upon by Harvey. 
§ 5897. One.—Assynt, 1851. “J. Sd.” 
Sent by John Sutherland [of Ledbeg}. 
§ 5898. Zhree.—Lieppi-miervi, 23 June, 1853. “J. W.” 
Out of two nests—one from the first and two from the second. 
Of both I saw, and (I am ashamed to say) shot at the hen from her 
eggs. They were upon little islands in the lake. To the second 
nest a fish-spear and a noose were closely applied to scare birds-of- 
prey : an Owl [Short-eared?] was playing extraordinary antics near. 
As the female flew off the eggs remained covered with a sheet of down. 
I saw distinctly several cock- as well as hen-birds on the water, and 
no other kind of Koskelo breeds here. The first set of eggs were 
smaller and darker than the second—nine eggs. 
§ 5899. Light.—VJerisjarvi, 1853. 
There were nine, brought to me by Herr Salomon from Jerisjarvi. 
The person was certain of the species, which he said he saw, and 
indeed the nest is characteristic. 
