88 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



one gunner alone in the neighbourhood of Invergordon 

 in Eoss- shire. 



In severe weather, they frequent all the muddy har- 

 bours and creeks on the eastern and southern coast, 

 and here they also meet with another warm reception, 

 thousands falling victims to the swivel guns, frequently 

 twenty or thirty, and occasionally as many as fifty or 

 sixty, being obtained at one discharge. 



On the approach of spring they again work their 

 way back, and finally take their departure for the 

 summer about the end of March or beginning of April. 

 They seem to prefer the eastern to the western side of 

 the island. 



I have never met with these birds on inland waters, 

 except on two or three occasions during heavy snow- 

 storms or protracted rough and stormy weather. 



Though feeding almost exclusively on the weeds 

 on the salt water muclbanks, their flesh never acquires 

 a fishy taste, and they are considered to be the finest 

 flavoured of all the Goose tribe that visit our islands. 



The specimens in the case were shot at the Little 

 Ferry, a muddy harbour a couple of miles south-west 

 of Golspie, in Sutherland, in March, 1869. 



EIDER (MATUKE AND YOUNG.) 

 Case 88. 



This fine bird is to be met with round several parts of 

 the Scotch coast, and also in a semi-domesticated state 

 on the Fern Islands, off the coast of Northumberland. 

 The females that nest here appear to select the 

 neighbourhood of the storehouses and other buildings 



