BIRDS OF SOUTH-EAST NORTHUMBERLAND. 25 
sifted with its bill; subsequently it was shot and found to be 
lacking of an eye, which accounted for its prolonged stay, and 
also for our observing it being knocked over by the waves. 
- Another was shot at St. Mary’s in January, 1911. 
. Common Scorer (Hdemia nigra).—A fairly common visitor 
in winter. My brother observed an enormous flock of Scoters 
in October, 1909; they were swimming north, and all dived 
simultaneously, rising some thirty yards ahead and swimming 
for some distance, then diving again. They seemed to be 
following a shoal of small fry. A favourite haunt is opposite 
the mouth of the Seaton Burn, where sometimes several small 
flocks can be seen. Here they feed on the food washed down by 
the stream, and also on the large variety of the crustacean fauna 
which is, according to various authorities, particularly abundant 
here, owing, as one writer states, to the quantity of alge on the 
rocks (‘Transactions of Northumberland and Durham Natural 
History Society’). 
Vetvet Scoter (Z. fusca).—A winter visitant of rare occur- 
rence. I have only two records: Mr. Taylor informs me that 
one was shot at Whitley in 1905; four birds were observed by 
my brother and I near the mouth of the Seaton at Holywell 
Burn on Dec. 14th, 1910; several flocks of Common Scoters 
were also present, but the rarer species kept apart from them 
and were very wild. 
Rep-BREasteD Mercanser (Mergus serrator).—An occasional 
visitor in winter. A male was shot at Hartley on Jan. 25th, 
1838. My father procured an adult female from a fisherman 
who had shot it in October, 1892; and another, also a female, 
was shot in November, 1909, and purchased by my uncle. Both 
of these are in our possession. 
GoosanpEerR (M. merganser).—An exceedingly rare visitor in 
winter. I have been informed by several observers that speci- 
mens have been shot at St. Mary’s Island, but have not examined 
any of them, and think that they very probably were of the 
former species. There is, however, one definite record, an adult 
male in summer plumage, in the early spring of 1880, which 
was shot by Mr. J. Ewen at St. Mary’s Island, and considered 
by him to be a Hooded Merganser (M. cucullatus), being recorded 
as such by W. W. Tomlinson, Ksq., in his history of this district. 
