6968 Birds. 



found. I went back three days afterwards, when, although there were 

 no signs of human foot-prints, all the eggs were gone. A nearly 

 black specimen was killed by a dog near here, some years ago ; also 

 one with only one leg, and but one fore toe to the remaining foot. 



Little Crake (G. pusilla). Only one of this British rarity has been 

 procured here, as far as I know. This occurred in March, 1852, at a 

 place called Thornton, on the banks of the Isla. It was found dead 

 by a girl tending cattle. 



Moorhen {G. chloropus), or, as we have it here the "waterhen," for 

 if any one were to speak here of the moorhen he would be looked 

 upon as talking of the red grouse or " muir fowl." In consequence 

 of having but few lochs, and those very small, we have not many of 

 this species. A few about our rivers, and what little pieces of water 

 we have, are all we can boast of. They are excellent swimmers, 

 although not web-footed; nor are they bad divers; and as skulkers 

 they almost rival the land rail. 



Water Rail [Rallus aquaticus). Far more scarce than the last, in 

 fact it is almost a rarity. Specimens are now and then met with, and 

 that is all. Perhaps their skulking habits prevent their being oftener 

 seen. 



Coot (Fulica atra). I believe this to be but an occasional visitor. A 

 few specimens have been observed at different times. On the loch of 

 Strathbeg (Aberdeenshire), where they are pretty numerous, they 

 breed, and remain all the year round. In very wet summers the water 

 of this loch rises at times considerably above the usual level ; on 

 such occasions I have seen the coot sailing nobly along with her nest 

 beneath her. 



Gray Phalarope [Phalaropus platyrhynchus). Three specimens 

 were procured on the sands of Sandend, during the winter of 1840 — 1. 



Rednecked Phalarope [P. hyperhoreus) . One specimen, a male, 

 was shot on the beach here, in the spring of 1855. 



Of the genus Anser we are remarkably scanty. Several kinds of 

 geese have from time to time been procured, and not an autumn or 

 spring passes without many large flocks being seen passing and 

 repassing, but to what species they may belong it is difficult to say. 

 That the graylag [Anser ferus), the brent (A. hernicla), the Egyptian 

 {A. cBgyptiacus), and the spurwinged [A. gambensis) have been met 

 with is beyond doubt ; but that these are all that have visited us it is 

 hard to say. The brent is very numerous some seasons along the 

 coast. 



The genus Cygnus is still more scantily represented. Some of 



