158 A CATALOGUE OF THE BIRDS 



questioned. He caught the bird on the nest. "Where was it ? 

 They had eaten it. The feathers, where were they? At the 

 house. On our return, we procured the feathers, and the wings 

 which had been kept for dusters; and thus the question was 

 solved beyond a doubt. Our eggs were those of the Golden-eye, 

 and great was our joy, as no eggs of this species had been seen 

 in England at that time. Since then I have received specimens 

 of the eggs from the late Mr. "Wheelwright, who took them in 

 Sweden. 



155. HARELDA, Leach. 



54. Long-tailed Duck. H. glacialis, [Linnmiis.) 



Anas glacialis, Bewick, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 1847, II., 345. 

 FuliguU ,, Yarrell, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 2, III., 355. 



A winter visitant. Not uncommon on the coast. 



156. SOMATERIA, Leach. 



55. Eider Duck. S. mollissima, {Linnceus.) 



Anas mollissima, Bewick, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 1847, II., 319. 

 Somateria ,, Yarrell, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 2, III., 297. 



A resident, but not by any means abundant. Several pairs 

 breed on the Earne Islands. 



56. King Duck. S. spectabilis, {Linnmis.) 



Anas spectahilis, Bewick, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 1847, II., 324. 

 Somateria ,, Yarrell, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 2, III., 308. 



This handsome Duck which must rank as a rare casual visitant, 

 has occurred only once on the coast of Northumberland, and that 

 so late as November 14th, 1873. It was shot near the Earne 

 Islands, and is now in the possession of F. Baine, Esq., of Dur- 

 ham. I saw the specimen a few days after its capture, in the 

 hands of Mr. R. Duncan, to whom it was intrusted to be pre- 

 served. It is a fine mature male, in full plumage, with the ex- 

 ception of the neck, on which part it shows a little grey of the 

 summer plumage. 



