412 



BANFFSHIRE FAUNA. 



APPENDIX. 



paid no attention to such things. Is it possible that these 

 birds remove their eggs on its coming to their knowledge that 

 their nests have been discovered ? I knew of a nest which con- 

 tained seven eggs. I took one, and, wishing to get all that the 

 hen would lay, left the remainder untouched ; I also carefully 

 obliterated all my foot-marks, to prevent others from suspecting 

 anything if the nest was found. I went back three days after- 

 wards, when, although there were no signs of human footprints, 

 all the eggs were gone. 

 GALLINULA PUSILLA [Little Crake], 



Only one of this British rarity has been procured here, so far as I 

 know. It occurred at a place called Thornton, on the banks of 

 the Isla. 

 GALLINULA CHLOEOPUS [MoorJieri], 



The "waterhen." In consequence of our having but few lochs, 

 and those very small, we have not many of this species. As 

 skulkers, they almost rival the landrail. 



RALLTJS AQUATICUS [ Water RaiT\. 



Far more scarce than the last ; in fact it is almost a rarity. 

 Perhaps their skulking habits prevent their being oftener seen. 



FULICA ATKA [Coot]. 



An occasional visitor. On the loch of Strathbeg (Aberdeenshire), 

 where they are pretty numerous, they breed, and remain all 

 the year round. In very wet summers the water of this loch 

 rises at times considerably above the usual level ; on such 

 occasions I have seen the coot sailing nobly along with her 

 nest beneath her. 



PHALAROPUS PLATYEHYNCHUS [Gray Phalarope]. 



Three specimens were procured on the sands of Sandend. 



PHALAEOPUS HYPEEBOEEUS [Rednecked Phalarope]. 



One specimen, a male, was shot on the beach here, in the spring 

 of 1855. 



ANSER. 



Of the genus Anser we are remarkably scanty. Several kinds of 

 geese have from time to time been procured, and not an autumn 

 or spring passes without many large flocks being seen passing 

 and repassing, but to what species they belong it is difficult 

 to say. That the Graylag (ANSER FERUS), the Brent (A. 

 BERNICLA), the Egyptian (A. ^GYPTIACUS), and the Spur- 

 winged (A. GAMBENSIS), have been met with, is beyond doubt ; 

 but that these are all that have visited us, it is hard to say. 

 The Brent is very numerous in certain seasons along the coast. 



CYGNUS. 



The genus Cygnus is still more scantily represented. Some of 

 them visit us in passing to and from their breeding grounds. 



ANAS TADORNA [Common Shieldrake]. 



This pretty bird is only a winter visitor with us, and then not in 

 large numbers. 



