868 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



big show, and a mere cursory view of their numbers would 

 probably lead to an overestimation. 



Somateria mollissima (Eider Duck). 



This is the only species of duck which breeds at St. 

 Kilda. It nests both on the main island and on Dun, and 

 possibly on the other islands also. It is by no means 

 plentiful, and can scarcely, I fear, hold its own much 

 longer on the main island, as the eggs, and even the sitting 

 bird, are taken by the natives on every possible oppor- 

 tunity. I saw two drakes and a duck on June 9th, when 

 rowing round the south side of the island, and I was shown 

 a clutch of five eggs which had been taken on Dun 

 previous to my visit. On Tune 21st, when on the to]) of 

 Mullach Mor, a boy who was on the hill at the same time, 

 brought me in triumph a duck which he had just caught 

 on her nest. I went with him to the nest, which contained 

 four eggs, all chipped for hatching, and the young birds 

 within chirping vigorously. With some difficulty, and 

 with the aid of a pecuniary solatium, I got the lad to 

 relinquish his prize, and put the bird back on her nest, 

 and I hope she brought her young off in safety. It is no 

 wonder that the bird holds its own with difficulty. 



Hcpmatopus ostrcdegus (Oyster Catcher). 



Not numerous, but several pairs breed round the coasts, 

 where the rocks are low enough for the purpose. On 

 Tune Kith I found a nest containing four c^rr> amongsl 

 the rocks at the bottom of the Glen. 



Gallinago ccdestis (Common Snipe . 



The first snipe's ^^ ever known to have been taken 

 on St. Kilda, were obtained by a native in the summer 

 of 1 !)()(), and sent by Alec Ferguson to my friend Mr. 

 Wheat (who visited the island in 1899) for identification. 



