S6Q Ornithological Notes, by Kobert Gray, F.R.S.E. 



to retain the nuptial plumage until late in the season. Two 

 specimens in full summer dress, wMcli I had an opportunity of 

 seeing, were shot at North Berwick on the 18th October, 1879. 

 I have repeatedly observed the same fact in specimens of the 

 Oyster Catcher shot in other parts of Scotland as late as November. 



PiNK-POOTED Goose (Anser hrachyrynchus). — I can about calcu- 

 late with certainty on seeing this species every winter in the Firth 

 of Forth. I examined three specimens that were obtained from 

 this district in December last. 



Bernicle Goose {Anser leucopsis). — Of late years the Bernicle 

 Goose has been observed, with some regularity, to visit the Firth 

 in winter. Several specimens, in very fine plumage, were pro- 

 cured during the same month in which the preceding species 

 occurred. 



Shelldrake ( Tadorna vulpanser) appeared to be very common 

 in various parts of the Firth of Forth at the same time. About 

 twenty very fine and heavy birds, richly coloured, came under 

 my observation in the winter of 1879-80 : they were all taken in 

 the estuary. The same remarks apply to the winter of 1880-81. 



Shoveller {Anas dypeata). — A nest of this duck, with eight 

 eggs, was taken by Mr A. 0. Stark on 15th May, 1880, on the 

 banks of a loch in Fifeshire. There were eight or ten pairs of 

 Shovellers seen on the occasion and during subsequent visits. 



Pochard {Fuligula ferind). — The same gentleman also took a 

 nest of the Common Pochard or Dun Bird, about the close of the 

 month of May, on the banks of the same loch. He had seen the 

 birds paired some weeks previously. Mr Stark adds to this in- 

 formation his opinion that several pairs of Pochard breed annually 

 on the banks of the loch referred to. 



Goosander {Mergus merganser) has been very common during 

 the past winter in various localities. I saw several specimens 

 that had been shot on the Yarrow and sent to Edinburgh for 

 preservation. A very handsome young male bird from Dunbar, 

 now in my own collection, was shot on the 21st January, 1880. 



Eed-throated Diver {Colymbus Beptentrionalis). — I examined 

 a fine specimen of this diver which was shot at North Berwick 

 on 18th October: it shewed marked traces of the gular patch 

 yet remaining. Another specimen shot at the same place on 16th 

 March was in full summer plumage ; while a third, killed on the 

 same day at North Berwick, had not changed a feather from its 

 winter colouring. 



