BIRDS SEEN IN THE MAINLAND OF ORKNEY. 59 



tame, and I frequently watched them through the glasses sleeping 

 on the water not twenty yards away. The drake had not yet 

 attained full plumage, being still brown on the back, and with 

 the white forehead, though its head and neck were nearly black. 



Eider [Somateria mollis sim a) . — The Eider was by far the 

 commonest Duck. Single pairs and small flocks of eight to 

 fifteen could be seen at any time among the rocks busily feeding, 

 and they were often noticed fighting and chasing one another, when 

 some choice morsel was secured by one of them. So tame were 

 they that when one went out on to the rocks close to them they 

 only swam off a few yards into deeper water. All the drakes but 

 one seen were fully adult birds in winter plumage, the exception 

 being in partial eclipse, though evidently fast getting his full 

 winter dress. 



Common Scoter (CEdemia nigra).— One pair only was seen 

 off St. Mary's Holm on Oct. 4th. 



Velvet Scoter (CEdemia fusca). — Not seen on the mainland, 

 but five birds of this species rose in front of the steamer on 

 Oct. 18th, off Hoxa, in South Ronaldshay. 



Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator). — Two birds of 

 this species were seen in the sound off Groemeshall on Oct. 6th, 

 three more farther east on Oct. 13th, and four more in the bay at 

 St. Mary's Holm on Oct. 17th, near which place there was a nest 

 this year. All were in the immature plumage, and, though I went 

 quite close to them on the 13th and 17th, I could see no signs of 

 any dark feathers coming on the necks of any. 



Rock-Dove (Columba livia). — The Rock-Doves breed in con- 

 siderable numbers in the caves at the east end of the mainland, and, 

 though they are said to be less numerous than they were twenty 

 years ago, there does not appear to be much danger of their exter- 

 mination, the coast being very exposed, and quite unapproachable 

 except in a flat calm, and even then they are by no means easy to 

 shoot. The majority seemed to be pure bred birds, but it is 

 evident that the tame birds interbreed with them in the caves, 

 and the wild birds are said to visit the dovecots in the winter. 

 One bird seen was nearly white, while another had many brown 

 feathers in the wings and scapulars ; and two others had white 

 heads. At this time of the year they feed almost entirely on the 

 stubbles, returning to the cliffs as soon as their crops are full. 



