NOTHS AND QUERIES. 35 
chickens were hatched in 1895, and the hen kept with her till the 
next spring, when both would sit on the same nest, and the under- 
neath one (hen) had to be taken away. The cockerel that was let 
out was terribly fierce, and his sister (Miss Garratt) told me that after 
it (the cock) had killed all the rats at the mill it then killed the cats 
that used to help catch them, but I cannot further confirm. The 
Eagle belonged to Mr. Garratt, miller, of Hertford, then to his 
brother, Samuel Garratt, of Hoe Mill, and then his son Porter. Was 
believed to be bought at Leadenhall Market sixty-seven years ago.— 
Epwarp A. Frrcx (Brick House, Maldon, Essex). 
Long-tailed Duck breeding in Orkney. —I read this record in 
‘The Zoologist’ (1911, p. 432) with much interest, and I sincerely 
hope that Mr. O. V. Aplin will come forward with definite proof that 
Harelda glacialis has really bred in Orkney during the summer of 
1911. Such a statement as Mr. Aplin makes is valueless without de- 
finite proof. For the last three years, to my certain knowledge, a 
few Long-tails have remained behind on Loch Stennis during the 
whole of the summer, but I never dared to assume that they bred 
there, thinking them rather ‘‘pricked” birds unable to perform the 
spring migration north. Again, I would urge Mr. Aplin to give 
definite proof, and so establish the fact that the Long-tail does breed 
in Orkney, because it has been suspected of breeding there for many 
years, and to have the matter definitely settled would be extremely 
satisfactory. Should no more proof be forthcoming than what at 
present is before us, I am afraid the record cannot be accepted.—F’. W. 
SMALLEY (Challan Hall, Silverdale, Lancashire). 
Habits of the Coot.—Referring to the reported early migration of 
the Coot (fulica atra) (Zool. 1911, p. 483), the fact should not be 
overlooked that this is a very prolific bird. Its breeding period 
covers several months, although it is perhaps difficult to say how 
many broods a pair of Coots would actually bring up in the season. 
Given sufficient cover early in the spring, the Coot appears to be an 
early breeder, and it certainly may be found breeding quite late in 
the summer, though whether the same individuals would go on 
breeding all through the season I have not sufficient information to 
say. There is a record of three nests (eight, seven, and six eggs, the 
first considerably incubated) on March 24th, 1890; a nest of nine 
eggs, incubated, on March 31st, 1891; and a nest of two eggs on 
March 21st, 1893 (Zool. 1893, p. 191). In the ‘ Field’ of April 25th, 
1891, there is a record of a brood of young seen on April 10th; and 
