BIRDS. 



243 



we must take into consideration the question — Where is the area of 

 its greatest occupancy on the Continent 1 And that ascertained, 

 which have naturally been the lines of subsequent extension ? For 

 that information I think we have abundant e\idence in previously 

 published works on distribution. 



. — Clangula albeola (i.) Buffel-headed Duck. 



Mr. Sim has disposed of the specimens shown to Mr. E. Gray, — one l y Mr. 

 Craibe Angus, and one by Mr. Edward, of Banff ; the first, stated to have 

 been shot on Loch Loriston in January 1865 (a fine male) ; and the other on 

 the Loch of Strathbeg (Dee) " many years ago."' Any further comment is quite 

 unnecessary here for those who understand the right tise of square brackets.] 



ngula glaucion (Z.). Goldeneye. 



Common winter visitant. 



It is curious to find how persistently Goldenej^es visit us and 

 remain with us long into the spring and even the summer months, 

 but refuse to stay with us during their breeding season. Their 

 breeding season in Norway comes off in June. 



The Goldeneye is frequent on the upper reaches of the river Tay in 

 winter, and they often go some distance up the river. Thus, they con- 

 gregate about Kinfaiins, and many remain on the lower reaches as late 

 as the 7th April or thereby. But human intervention, decidedly, comes 

 in to prevent a longer stay, as the bird might well be believed to avail 

 itself of nesting sites if permitted. The "Fast Day in Dundee and 

 in neighbouring towns makes holiday for crowds of " shore-poppers." 

 The Goldeneyes "lift"; and after that "high festival" for men not 

 another remains. Where less disturbed I have seen Goldeneyes 

 remain well into May, and even into June — as, for instance, ofiP the more 

 open coast of Berwickshire on the 3rd May — which individuals no 

 doubt remained even later. 



As regards the nesting of this bird, I think I have disposed of former 

 records in Scotland to the north of the Grampians, and, with one excep- 

 tion, to the north of Forth and Clyde. But one remains which I think 

 may as well be disposed of now. A pair were reported to have 

 " nested in a hollow tree " in a locality in the south of Perthshire 

 (Forth) "last summer," i.e. 1879 (Froc. Nat. Hist. Soc. Glasgow^ 

 September 1879, p. 184). That may now be relegated to the class 

 of "very doubtfuls." Indeed there is evidence to show that it was 

 not a Goldeneye at all, but a Goosander. 



