998 Ornithology of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. 
ELDER DUCK (Somateria mollissima Linn.) 
On the 16th of June we found three nests of these birds 
on two small uninhabited islands near Grand Manan. They 
contained no down and were without eggs. They had either 
been recently robbed, or the females had not begun to lay. A 
small flock was to be seen in the neighborhood, but they were 
very shy and unapproachable. The nests were composed of dry 
grass, and placed within a few feet of high water. Owing to 
the constant persecutions to which they are subjected, it is 
highly probable that in a few years they will be driven away 
entirely from these islands in the breeding season, and be 
compelled to seek more inaccessible places. Not many years 
ago they were quite abundant, and several pairs bred each 
year on two small islets known as the Green Islands. As it 
may be interesting hereafter to note the time of their final 
disappearance from their now extreme southern breeding 
place, I have thought it not amiss to note the fact, that at 
least three pairs of these birds were remaining there as late as 
the present summer, the last of a once numerous family ; but 
it is very doubtful if any of them succeeded in raising their 
broods in safety. 
Audubon found them, in 1833, breeding in the same 
vicinity as early as the 31st of May, and in much greater 
numbers. 
HARLEQUIN DUCK (Clangula histrionica Linn.) 
Mr. Audubon, in his account of this bird, speaks of it as 
breeding on the’ Seal, White-Head, and Grand Manan 
Islands, and along the coast of Nova Scotia. Although he 
sequently speaks of actually finding a nest of the bird, and 
the time and place of finding, Iam constrained to believe, 
by the result of all my inquiries, that he was altogether mis- 
taken. That he found a nest and eggs, as he states, on the 
3Ist of May, 1833, I do not doubt ; but I think he must have 
been induced, on insufficient stills to pronounce them 
