180 BIRDS. 



Burroughs, of Rousay, we saw from the dining-room window 

 over a thousand Eiders in Viera Sound." 



" On 10th October 1887, Flower and I went to shoot rabbits 

 on Eynhallow ; we then counted nearly a thousand Eiders on 

 the north side of the island." 



" During the summer we frequently observe Eiders (females 

 in every case), upon the mill-dam of the farm of Burgar. I have 

 often seen Eiders (ducks in every instance), on fresh-water 

 lochs, a mile and more from the sea." 



" In the throat of an Eider Duck skinned by Flower was a 

 whelk shell measuring an inch and a half long and three 

 quarters of an inch broad." 



" William Wood has been most successful in hatching out 

 young Eiders under domestic ducks. They did well upon the 

 same food as that given to the mothers, but invariably drifted 

 out with the tide and regained their liberty, when about seven 

 or eight months old. They did not show any black or white 

 in their plumage during the first winter, and the repeated 

 examination of young males has convinced me, that they moult 

 into their first nuptial dress in the second autumn. The 

 blending of the black, white and brown of birds of the year 

 differs considerably in individuals of the same age." 



" I am guiltless of having often fired at Eiders, but upon one 

 occasion, on February 18th, 1886, while cruising round Sanday, I 

 fired a heavy shoulder gun into a large flock, specimens being 

 required for friends. Six were stopped by the shot." 



In 1883 we found Eiders abundant round the east end of 

 Rousay and the holms adjacent thereto, both during the breeding 

 season and in winter. During the moult, a large flock of males 

 frequented the sound between Viera and Gairsay and the 

 Mainland, apparently unable to fly, as, on a rifle ball being fired 

 into their midst, they merely dived. 



In 1888 we found the Eider abundant in many of the 

 islands, especially the smaller holms. On the estate of Tanker- 

 ness were the remains of Eider Ducks' nests more than two 

 miles from the sea. We saw very few about Sanday, and none 

 about the Westray group or N. Ronaldsay. They seemed 

 most abundant on the islands of Damsay and Eynhallow, and 

 on Linga Holm, near Stronsay. 



