158 Ornithological Notes, by Robert Gray. 



January, 1877, and sent in the flesh to Mr Hope, George Street, 

 for preservation. 



Goosander {Mergus Merganser). — Though perhaps less plentiful 

 than in 1875-76, the Goosander seems to have occurred in con- 

 siderable numbers throughout East Lothian and Berwickshire 

 during the past winter. Last year I examined four specimens 

 that were shot in the end of March and beginning of April. One 

 — a male in summer plumage — occurred as late as the 15th May. 



Merganser {Mergus serrator). — A most beautiful male in full 

 breeding plumage was found dead on the beach near Cramond, 

 on 23rd April. The markings and shining lustre gave the bird 

 a strikingly handsome appearance. I record the occurrence, as 

 it has rarely happened, in my experience, that a Merganser has 

 been met with so late in the season in the Lothians. 



Sclavonian Grebe {Podiceps cornutus). — This Grebe is, I find, 

 rather a scarce species in Berwickshire and the Lothians. One 

 was shot at Prestonpans on 12th January of the present year, 

 and sent to Mr Small, who informs me that he has not seen a 

 specimen for many years. It is a somewhat singular fact that of 

 the British Grebes, the Eared Grebe — regarded as a compara- 

 tively scarce bird in Britain — is the commonest species on the 

 shores of East Lothian and Berwickshire. It is easily dis- 

 tinguished from other Grebes by the upturned form of the lower 

 mandible, but seems to have been overlooked in many quarters 

 probably from its general resemblance to P. cornutus. 



Black-throated Diver {Colymlus ardicus). — A specimen in 

 winter plumage, with faint traces of the gular patch, was shot on 

 St. Mary's Loch, Selkirkshire, in the first week of April, 1876, 

 and another was obtained on the same loch on 4th April of the 

 present year. This very beautiful Diver is seen every year in the 

 Erith of Eorth off Dunbar and North Berwick, in full summer 

 plumage about the middle of April. 



Common Guillemot ( Uria troile). — Several specimens in full 

 summer plumage were shown to me on the third of last month 

 (March 18, 1877); they were shot near North Berwick. This 

 is unusually early, as the plumage must have been fully assumed 

 at least a week previously. I may here record that a specimen 

 of this bird in my collection, which was shot in December at the 

 entrance to Gareloch, Argyleshire, has the whole of the under 

 plumage covered with undulating faint grey lines, like those 



