Ornithological Notes. By Robert Gray. 199 



— also a female — but failed to learn the precise locality where it 

 was killed. A third — a male bird — was shot at Queensferry in 

 February, 1882, and preserved by Mr Hope who kindly shewed 

 me the specimen. 



PocHAED or Dun Bied {Fuligula ferina). 



Tufted Duck {F. Cristatd). — These two ducks breed in some 

 numbers on a loch in Fif eshire and appear to be increasing every 

 year. During the past season there were from fifteen to twenty 

 pairs of each, and several nests were carefully examined leaving 

 no doubt whatever as to the identity of both species. The pre- 

 cise locality is for obvious reasons withheld. 



Common Guillemot ( Uria troile). — I examined two Guillemots 

 in full summer plumage which were shot in the Firth of Forth 

 on 1st February, 1882. A Eazorbill shot at the same time was 

 in the winter plumage. I had met with similar cases before. 



Black Guillemot ( Uria grylle). — A few pairs still linger in the 

 vicinity of the Isle of May in the Firth of Forth, where an occa- 

 sional nest may yet be taken. It is, however, doubtful whether, 

 notwithstanding the protection afiorded to the sea birds, the 

 species will maintain its hold in this locality. 



Little Auk {Mergulus alle). — A Little Auk was found alive in 

 the water of Leith at Gorgie near Edinburgh, on 9th April, 

 1883, and sent to Mr Small for preservation. 



Little Gull [Larus minutus). — A young bird, apparently a 

 few months old, was shot at North Berwick on 7th December, 

 1882, and is now I believe in the collection of Dr. Crombie of 

 that place. I have records of the occurrence of Little Gulls in 

 other parts of Scotland which lead me to infer that flocks had 

 arrived in the north west two months earlier and had probably 

 found their way eastward through the Pentland Firth to the 

 coast of Caithness from which they would by easy stages travel 

 southwards, lingering no doubt for a time in the intervening 

 estuaries. Their first appearance was, I find on referring to my 

 note books, at the island of Lewis in the month of October — two 

 roughly skinned specimens with the flesh adhering to the skins 

 and wingbones having been sent to Mr Hope by a resident 

 keeper, along with an Iceland Gull {Larus Icelandicus), shewing 

 the two species had come together, as they are known to do in 

 other quarters where flocks of Arctic Gulls arrive at irregular 

 intervals. 



