observation, though I happened to see a fine 

 specimen which was shot on Horsey Mere in a 

 private collection in that neighbourhood. 



At the time the birds in the case were killed 

 I had but little opportunity for observing their habits. 

 I first caught sight of them while fishing in the 

 channels on Breydon flats, before it was fairly light, 

 during a heavy storm. After following them 

 some time they all settled on a mudbank, appear- 

 ing to be attracted by a pair or two of fine old 

 Grey Plovers which were resting there, and 

 happening to alight at the moment I came within 

 gunshot, the whole were obtained at one discharge. 



In the grey of the morning I at first mistook 

 them for Black Terns, and was surprised to notice 

 them pitching in the water for food like the Common 

 or Arctic Tern ; the Black usually feeding on insects 

 which it captures over the water in the same 

 manner as the Sand Martin. 



The birds were shot after a most tempestuous 

 night early in the morning of the 26th of May, 

 1871, on Breydon mudflats. 



MERGANSER. 

 Case 249. 



The breeding plumage of the male of this 

 species is by no means so handsome as his winter 

 dress ; it cannot however be said that the cares of 

 his family, or the toil of providing for their wants, 

 have been the cause of his change, as the brightest 

 of his colours were laid aside before the beginning 

 of March. 



These birds are particularly plentiful along the 

 wild rocky coasts of the northern parts of Scotland, 

 breeding on the islands both off the coast and in 

 the fresh-water lochs. 



It is a singular habit with the present species 

 that two or three females with their broods 



