BIRDS. 185 



was described by Mr. Herbert Langton (Zool. 1881, p. 59). On 

 the 20th of November 1884 Mr. Walker saw, but did not 

 obtain, another male of this species swimming in the same 

 waters in company with Velvet Scoters. This bird was very 

 tame, but, owing to the wildness of its companions, it could not 

 be approached, although generally the last to leave the water 

 and the first to drop." 



From these remarks it will be seen that the Surf Scoter can 

 scarcely be called a very rare bird in the Orkneys, and that it 

 should be looked for amongst the Velvet Scoters. 



Mergus merganser, L. Goosander. 



Not a common bird. Mr. Moodie-Heddle writes us he has only 

 seen one or two ; one was killed at Westness in 1850. 



Mr. Irvine-Fortescue has never seen it, to his knowledge, in 

 Orkney, while Mr. Eeid says it is a regular winter visitant, 

 leaving very early in spring. 



Mr. Watt says they have been shot on the loch of Stenness, 

 and he now and then sees them in winter on the loch of Skaill, 

 as a rule single birds, though one remained, in 1889, until 

 rather late in the season. 



Mr. James Barnett, Crown Chamberlain, informed Mr. 

 Spence that a specimen of this bird, subsequently in Mr. 

 Petrie's collection, was killed by Peter Copland at Carness in 

 December 1874. Mr. Barnett added: "I fancy this bird is 

 very rarely seen in Orkney. I have not heard of another 

 specimen." 



Mr. Millais also considers this a rare species in Orkney, 

 though in the winter of 1884-5 he saw several. 



Mergus serrator, L. Red-breasted Merganser, 

 Qrc.=Harl, Ear eld (Low). 



Common and resident, breeding in most of the islands and holms. 

 Mr. Harvey, however, considers that it leaves Sanday during 

 the nesting season. 



Mr. Irvine-Fortescue tells us that a nest was found by Dr. 

 H. H. Johnston on a ledge of rock on Hobbister cliffs some 30 



