THE BOOK OF MIGRATORY BIRDS 25 



extended in long lines, gradually advancing towards the 

 land, and I realised that I was watching the army of brent 

 geese edging in towards the harbour. 



On several occasions I saw the Scaup duck, or Covey, 

 close to the reefs between the Castle and the false 

 Emmanuel Head. There were about a dozen old males, 

 with black heads and necks, and pretty fretted backs ; 

 females, with the white band around the bill; and the 

 young, in immature plumage. They all seemed expert 

 divers, and I noticed on two occasions they disappeared, 

 one after another, till none were visible, as if they had 

 special pleasure in raiding the shell fish in company. 



I did not see the "golden eyes," which I found were 

 locally called wigeon by the fishermen, nor the Scoters, 

 which I think is the velvet duck spoken of by the natives. 



I saw a long-tailed duck on one occasion, in company 

 with some eiders. I had just time to recognise his head 

 and short bill, and the long black tail, when he dived, and 

 I saw him no more. 



Mergansers I saw in the harbour, and divers, though 

 as the time was mid-winter they were not in full dress. 



I likewise noticed the quiet yet prompt disappearance of 

 the divers when diving, the body just sinking out of sight, 

 a very different motion from the energetic head-over-heels 

 action of the ordinary diving ducks and cormorants. Of 

 these latter I saw many. Doubtless they would be found 

 in spring at the Fames. I noticed that the buoy beyond 

 the "Plough Seat" was always tenanted by one or more 

 cormorants, either resting or on the alert for fish. 



In flight the divers looked much longer and more 

 pointed than the cormorants, and of course they showed 

 whitish below, whilst their wings were small. 



I experienced some little trouble in identifying birds, 

 owing to the use of local names. A dead Razor-bill which 

 I saw in the post-office was spoken of as a "willick," but 

 probably this bird was confused with the guillemot. 



I was informed that several little auks had been shot, 



