EAST COAST OF SCOTLAND. 33 



AnatidjE. — Thirteen Swans at N. Unst seen flying N.W. on 

 April 3rd, light airs, clear, and at same station three seen resting 

 on the loch on Oct. 30th, wind light S.W. and rain. Of geese 

 no spring records. In autumn, fifteen Wild Geese on Oct. 26th, 

 flying S. ; strong W. gale on 25th, and N.W. on 26th. In 

 November, three grey geese seen flying west at Pentland Skerries ; 

 wind fresh W.N.W. clear (marked "rare "). Of Eider Ducks, 

 earliest notice at Isle of May, a few small flocks on March 23rd, 

 W. to N.W. ; a large flock (" very few hitherto ") on April 19th, 

 and another (the same ?) on May 11th. No more, except such as 

 breed there, at least no records till Sept. 24th ; thirty-four 

 Eiders (three old males and one King Eider with them). This 

 flock had, however, been frequenting along shore for some days. 

 The King Eider was a splendid male, and was watched a whole 

 day at six or eight different vantage-points with a powerful 

 glass. Next day, while all the Eiders were still there, this bird 

 disappeared. During the three weeks I spent on Isle of May in 

 September and October, flocks of Eiders were never absent, 

 shifting their position according to the direction of the wind, 

 and diving, as is their habit, in the very midst of the angry 

 surf. The largest number counted in a flock was fifty (six 

 males) on Oct. 6th.* 



Teal, one record at Pentland Skerries on June 25th, light 

 N.W., resting on island; and one Wigeon at Isle of May on 

 June 11th; one Wild Duck, one Teal, Isle of May, Oct. 1st; 

 large numbers of Wigeons and Scaups in the Moray Firth by 

 Nov. 16th, and Barnicle Geese ; one Teal and one E. B. Mer- 

 ganser, shot at Isle of May (in mus. Isle of May) on 25th and 

 27th Nov. But at N. Konaldshay Eiders began to arrive by 

 September 1st, and remain all winter in hundreds. 



Columbid^. — Wood Pigeons : one at Isle of May on 6th 

 September, light W., clear ; a large flock flying N.W., wind N., 

 light, clear, on 14th November ; about one hundred on 26th, 

 flying N., wind light W.N.W. No other records from any other 

 station. An increase on resident numbers of Kock Doves 

 observed at Pentland Skerries on 14th November. 



* I saw sonie thirty or forty dead Eider Ducks and Drakes at a bird- 

 stuffers in Edinburgh in February, shot in Orkney by a Mr. Scott, of 

 Meadow Bank, Edinburgh ; I should be glad if Mr. Scott would tell me if he 

 shot thern for sport, or for what reason. 



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