378 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



from where he stood. One of them in my left hand as I 

 wr ite is the most perfect male I have ever seen, but even now, 

 on looking at the pair, I cannot help thinking that the glories of 

 that sunset were dimmed by their death. 



THE EIDER DUCK. 



SOMATERIA MQLLISSIMA. 

 Lacha 16ch lannach. Lach mhor. Colcach. Lach Cholonsa. 



THE extraordinary number of Eider Ducks found on the island of 

 Colonsay has gained for this bird the local name of Lach Cholonsa 

 over a considerable portion of the western districts of Scotland. 

 I am told by my friend Mr Graham that in spring and summer it 

 is very abundant there, surrounding the smaller islets, where they 

 hatch and multiply to a great extent, being strictly protected by 

 the proprietor; it is likewise very numerous around Mull and lona, 

 where it may be met with at all times of the year, along shore or 

 half-way out to Tyree, ten or fifteen miles from land. " The male 

 birds/' writes Mr Graham, " shine like stars upon the deep blue, 

 long-heaving swell which comes in from the Atlantic Ocean. They 

 are not very shy when sailed down upon, and are less suspicious of 

 a large boat than of a smaller. We considered them better eating 

 than most other maritime ducks; they seem to feed entirely on sea- 

 weed, browsing at the bottom in deep water. When startled, they 

 take flight at once, without having recourse to diving as a means 

 of escape. We sometimes find the nest upon the unfrequented 

 islets, among the rocks a little above the sea level. The young, 

 when hatched, are black, and about the size of goslings." I have 

 seen family groups of Eiders in September off the western shores of 

 Benbecula and North and South Uist and Lewis riding at their 

 ease on the troubled sea that almost constantly breaks upon that 

 side of the Long island. Numbers breed upon the islands in the 

 Sound of Harris; and sometimes when a nesting-place is selected 

 on the moors of North Uist, the old birds are met leading their 

 young ones by the nearest route to the water. On these occasions 

 they will at times linger at a fresh water loch, remaining there a 

 few days, as I have been informed by Mr MacDonald of Newton, 

 who has noticed them, and has shot the old birds. Mr MacDonald 



