NOTES. 197 



bracken and live whin near the original spot. At the 

 beginning of the third week the young and old birds were 

 gone and I failed to find them. 



J. S. T. Walton. 



COMMON SCOTER BREEDING IN IRELAND. 



A pair of Common Scoters {(Edemia nigra) have again this 

 year nested on an island in an Irish lough, which they have 

 frequented for some months in each year since 1904 inclusive 



Site of the Nest of the Common Scoter on an island in an, Irish 

 lough, June, 1909. 



(c/. Vol. II., pp. 86-87). On June 13th I found a single egg 

 in a depression in coarse grass, which was under some oak- 

 scrub ; the egg was within three feet of the edge of it, and about 

 fifteen yards from the water. It was well concealed from view, 

 from all sides and from above. On re- visiting the spot on the 

 17th there was a nest in a rudimentary condition, and in it were 

 four Scoter's eggs and one of a Tufted Duck. Being uncertain 

 as to the identity of the owner of the nest, I took one of the 

 former, unnecessarily as it turned out, for on the 22nd I put 

 a female Scoter off the nest, which contained six of her own 

 eggs and the one of a Tufted Duck. 



My man found the Scoter still sitting on the 11th July but 

 did not disturb her. On the 18th he found the bird absent 



