FRAGMENTS. 393 



of " the Lamb " and " Fiddery," and even in the bluff head- 

 lands of the coast. Their nests are not easily found, especially 

 as the duck is so close a sitter. As the eiders had not 

 paired, I expected a good view of them swimming in 

 small companies, and perhaps a chance shot at a drake 

 from a large single gun I brought with me. The west 

 wind scarcely dimpled the sea ; so, with the exception of 

 one long shot which did not touch, no eiders would allow 

 a nearer approach than some hundred yards. The drakes 

 had a singular appearance on wing the upper half of their 

 bodies snowy white, and the lower jet black. At the dis- 

 tance they rose, the division of colour looked pretty equal. 

 I was delighted with a good sight of that beautiful creature 

 the long-tailed duck. He was diving in the harbour, 

 and is nicknamed " Col the caunle-wick" by the fishermen, 

 on account of his cry. We passed a very wild flock or 

 two of velvet-ducks, but I saw none of the common 

 scoter. Crowds of dunlins and knots, collectively named 

 " mussel-pickers " by Adams, were tripping upon many 

 of the points. The oyster-catchers (" sea-pyats ") also 

 held a meeting on the rocks of " the Lamb." I was 

 anxious to hear of the great northern diver, and one 

 of our crew told me that he had sometimes seen it, and 

 once fired a great many shots at a splendid " loon " 

 without effect. The red-throated diver now and then 

 rose near our boat, which he pointed out as " a gurl." 

 The raven had shifted its quarters from the Bass to 

 Fiddery, and, when nearing the islet, we noticed the pair 

 flying across to the opposite shore. The nest was under 



