S68 Ornithological Moiei. By Gleofge Bolatti. 



several little parties scattered about the rocks near the lighthouse at 

 Berwick, and frequenting the mouth of the Tweed : and during the next 

 ten days there appeared to be fresh arrivals almost daily. On the 1 7th 

 the flocks were largely increased — some of them being remarkably tame, 

 and considerable numbers were shot ; and on the 30th there was again a 

 very great arrival at the mouth of the river. The local shooters all killed 

 several birds each day, and for some time the general abundance of the 

 ducks and their tameness was the principal topic of conversation amonu^st 

 these men. Mixed with the Scaups were a few Long-tailed Ducks, and 1 

 heard of a single Pochard having been obtained ; while the flocks which 

 assembled at Berwick were only an index of what was taking place at 

 other suitable stations along the shore. As already mentioned, Divers and 

 Grebes were exceptionally abundant, and many Wild Swans appeared. The 

 Scaups continued with us till the middle or end of January, when their 

 numbers began gradually to decrease ; but many tarried until long 

 after that period. Thus on March 13th one was still observed off 

 Berwick ; and on the 19th of the same month a small flock, including one 

 slightly wounded male that was able to fly only with difiiculty, were 

 disturbed upon the Lough at Holy Island. After this none were seen 

 until May 6th, when I was greatly surprised in passing along the road to 

 see two pairs of Scaup Ducks quietly swimming upon the lake at 

 Pallinsburn. They were beyond question paired, and were in full plumage, 

 and appeared to be quite settled in their quarters for the summer ; but in 

 all probability they did not remain to breed there. I had no opportunity 

 of again visiting Pallinsburn until the 17th July following, when Mr 

 Watson Askew-Robertson very kindly granted me permission to inspect 

 the lake aa closely as it was possible to do without a boat, and considering 

 the amount of weeds, etc., which had grown up around it. 



On this occasion I found several black ducks, followed by broods of 

 young ones, upon the water, accompanied in one instance by a drake in 

 his duck's or summer plumage ; but though I suspect that these were all 

 only Tufted Ducks (which within the last year or two have become 

 established at Palliiisburn) I was unable quite to satisfy myself with 

 regard to one or two of them. Certainly they were either Tufted Ducks 

 or Scaups ; but those who are familiar with the worn autumn plumage in 

 which these birds appear towards the end of the breeding season, will 

 appreciate the difficulty I had in coming to a conclusive opinion regarding 

 them. One duck had undoubtedly a few white feathers about the base of 

 the bill, and I fancied also some freckling upon the back, her bill also 

 appearing to be very broad and blue, but, notwithstanding, she was 

 probably only a Tufted Duck, some of which sometimes show a little white 

 about the cheeks in autumn. The drake was in nearly uniform dull 

 brown plumage, but was too shy to admit of a very satisfactory eifaminar 

 tion, even with the glass. Although I searched very carefully round the 

 banks of the lake, where large quantities of moulted feathers had been 

 cast ashore, no decided Scaup feathers could be found, though those of 

 Tufted Duck, Mallard, etc., were in some places abundant. 



