APPENDIX. 357 



numbers at Eilean Hoan, entrance of Loch Erriboll, and other scattered 

 localities on the north coast. In 1882 Harvie-Brown found broken 

 egg-shells of Eider Duck upon Eilean Chlaimraig, close to Eilean Hoan, 

 apparently broken by gulls, and the site of a nest of the previous year 

 was pointed out by the fisherman who accompanied him. 



Velvet Scoter (Edemia fusca (Linn.) 



Winter visitant, haunting the banks at the mouth of the Little Ferry, 

 the Dornoch Firth, and also those towards Golspie. About 1870 they 

 used to be met with opposite Kintradwell, but are rarely seen there 

 now ; perhaps the bank there may have shifted or got too deep for 

 the birds to reach by diving. 



Black Scoter (Edemia nigra (Linn.) 



Winter resident, not rare on the south-east coast. Dr. Joass of Golspie 

 informs us that this species bred in Sutherland in the year 1877, the 

 eggs having been taken, and both old birds shot. 



As this species undoubtedly breeds not very rarely in Caithness, 

 just across the county march, it is fairly to be expected it will also be 

 found in Sutherland if looked for ; indeed, we ourselves on two occasions 

 in June 1878 thought we recognised this duck on a loch not far from 

 Balnacoil. Recorded as often seen at Tongue. Not hitherto recorded 

 from the west. 



Goosander Mergus merganser (Linn.) 



There are two specimens of this bird in the Dunrobin Museum ; we our- 

 selves have not observed it in the county, but Mr. Booth reported to 

 us viva voce that it bred on the Shin ; and it also occurs occasion- 

 ally in the Dornoch Firth. Occurs commonly, as reported by Mr. 

 Crawford, at Tongue in winter. Not hitherto recorded from the west. 



Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator (Linn.) 

 Resident, and common ; breeding throughout the whole of the eastern 

 district ; only met with on the coast in winter. Abundant in the 

 west, breeding both on fresh and sea water lochs. Generally distri- 

 buted. 



PYGOPODE8. 



Family COLYMBID.E. 



Great Northern Diver Colymbus glacialis, Linn. 

 Common along the east coast in winter and spring, but more abundant 

 at the latter season. We have a fine specimen in our collection, 

 obtained on one of the pools of the'Brora river in May. Found in the 

 Kyle of Tongue all the year round, but most abundantly from Sep- 

 tember to February. We have recorded the presence of a pair on a far 

 inland fresh-water loch in mid-summer (see Zool., 2d ser. p. 1309). We 

 do not wish again to insist on the fact of their breeding, but we still 

 adhere to the correctness of our statement as to their authentication 

 on that occasion. 



Black-throated Diver Cofymbiis arcticus, Linn. 

 Summer visitant, breeding on many of the lochs in the eastern district ; 

 rarely seen on the coast, going straight to their breeding-grounds, and 

 leaving at once for the south as soon as the young can fly. Few large 

 lochs are without a pair of these birds. Very common in the west, 

 where this species outnumbers the red-throated species ; in the north- 



