APPENDIX. | Birds. 361 
Ratius aquaticus [ Water-rail]. 
Far more scarce than the last; in fact, it is almost a rarity. Per- 
haps their skulking habits prevent their being oftener seen. 
Fotica atra [ Coot]. 
An occasional visitor. On the loch of Strathbeg (Aberdeenshire), 
where they are pretty numerous, they breed, and remain all the 
year round, In very wet summers the water of this loch rises 
at times considerably above the usual level: on such occasions I 
have seen the coot sailing nobly along with her nest beneath her. 
PHALAROPUS PLATYRHYNCHUS [ Gray Phalarope). 
Three specimens were procured on the sands of Sandend. 
PHALAROPUS HYPERBOREUS [Red-necked Phalarope]. 
One specimen, a male, was shot on the beach here, in the spring of 
1855. 
ANSER. 
Of the genus Anser we are remarkably scanty. Several kinds of 
geese have from time to time been procured, and not an autumn 
or spring passes without many large flocks being seen passing 
and repassing, but to what species they belong it is difficult to 
say. That the Graylag (ANsER FeRUS), the Brent (A. BERNICLA), 
the Ayyptian (A. Aieyrriacus), and the Spur-winged (A. GAMBEN- 
sis), have been met with, is beyond doubt; but that these are all 
that have visited us, it is hard to say. The Brent is very numer- 
ous in certain seasons along the coast. 
Cyenus. 
The genus Cygnus is still more scantily represented. Some of them 
visit us in passing to and from their breeding-grounds. 
Anas Taporna [Common Sheldrake]. 
This pretty bird is only a winter visitor with us, and then not in 
large numbers, 
Anas cLypeata [Shoveler']. 
This pretty bird is quite a rarity here. In the latter part of the 
winter of 1837—’38, which was of great severity, a mutilated spec- 
imen of the shoveler was found dead among the rocks at Black- 
pots. 
Anas strepera [ Gadwall]. 
Another great rarity, so far as Iam aware; one, a female, procured 
in the Deveron by Dr. Leslie, about the time the shoveler above 
alluded to was picked up, is the only one I know of. 
Anas acura [Pintail Duck]. 
I remember being roused rather early one morning, many years ago, 
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