Ornithological Notes, by Robert Gray, F.R.S.E. 355 



Common Pochard {Fuligula ferina), Scaup Duck {Fuligula 

 marila) — On 13th. April last, when walking along the shore be- 

 tween Longniddry and Aberlady Bay, I observed numbers of 

 these ducks evidently paired, sitting on stones preening their 

 feathers. Their perch was, in each, case, surrounded by shallow 

 water, and the birds were apparently so unaccustomed to any dis- 

 turbance that they allowed me to walk within stoning distance. 

 On plunging into the water they merely paddled out of reach of 

 the missiles which I threw at them, and looked back in evident 

 wonderment on experiencing such rough treatment. Farther 

 out, and at some distance from the beach, some hundreds of Com- 

 mon and Velvet Scoters were grouped in fishing companies and 

 enjoying the rich supply of shell fish for which the locality is 

 noted. 



Long-tailed Duck (Uarelda glacialis). — Unusual numbers of 

 this interesting duck have been seen during the past winter in 

 the Forth and Tay Estuaries. Simultaneous with a great fall of 

 snow, which took place on the 1st April last along the shores of 

 the Forth, the Long-tailed Ducks gathered in one immense flock 

 and indulged in a noisy concert during the night. On the follow- 

 ing day, however, they disappeared with the snow which, although 

 it lay in many p^ces seven inches in depth, melted with unusual 

 rapidity. At grey dawn on the morning of the 2nd, when every 

 branch and twig presented the extraordinary appearance of being 

 literally loaded with snow, Missel Thrushes, Blackbirds, and 

 Mavises were in full song as if in joyful expectation of the fine 

 weather which immediately followed. 



Sabine's Gull {Lotus Sabinii). — A young bird of this very rare 

 British species was shot on 2nd October, 1877, three miles from 

 North Berwick, and is now in the collection of Dr Crombie of 

 that town. I had an opportunity of seeing the bird in the flesh. 



Is 



