442 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



on a hill loch behind the Scuir, where they were doubtless 

 breeding. The Eev. Mr Macpherson saw five or six on the 

 Scuir lochs on 23d May 1882. 



65. Anas crecca (Teal). — Mr Scott informed me that he 

 had seen teal about the island. In Gray's " Birds of the 

 West of Scotland" it is stated to breed in the neighbouring 

 island of Eum. 



Q^. Somateria mollissima (Eider Duck). — I learned from 

 Mr Scott and others that a few pairs breed, or used to breed, 

 on the Castle Island. Mr Joass informs me he has seen a 

 brood of ducklings there. On the small islands out from 

 Arasaig I put several females off their nests, and saw others 

 with ducklings following them. The number of eggs in a 

 nest or young in a brood in no instance exceeded three, but 

 this was probably the result of frequent robbing of the nests. 



67. Mergus serrator (Eed-breasted Merganser). — Mr Scott 

 informs me that three were shot recently, and sent to a pro- 

 fessional bird-stuffer, by whom they were identified. I 

 found the species common in the neighbourhood of Arasaig, 

 and discovered a nest containing nine eggs ; and I believe I 

 saw a merganser flying close to the shores of Eigg. 



68. Podiceps, sp. ? (Grebe). — I found the remains of a 

 grebe on the shore, but did not make out the species satis- 

 factorily. It was evidently one of the middle-sized species, 

 probably the Sclavonian grebe (Podiceps cormitus). 



69. Colymbus glacialis (Great Northern Diver). — I^ot un- 

 common in winter. Mr Scott writes me that three were seen 

 lately. I observed a single bird feeding in the channel 

 between the landing-place and the Castle Island. On more 

 than one occasion within the last year or two I have 

 examined fresh specimens from Mull in the month of June. 



70. Uria iroile (Common Guillemot). — A good many were 

 seen at sea as we approached the island. 



71. Uria grylle (Black Guillemot). — I observed a fine male 

 feeding in the channel between the landing-place and Castle 

 Island, where I have no doubt the female was sitting on eggs 

 or young. Mr Gray, in his " Birds of the West of Scotland," 

 gives Eigg as a breeding-place. The same gentleman informs 

 me that, when on a yachting cruise in the autumn of 1877, 



