BIRDS. 



245 



and female — are in Mr. Marshall's collection from Monifieth Bay, 

 dating 4th January 1875, both shot by Mr. Nelson. It has been 

 got too at Johnshaven in May 1896 {auct. D. Towns, lately of 

 Montrose). 



Many other instances could be given, but these seem scarcely 

 required. At sea they are constantly met with in great numbers, 

 especially by the fisher-folk who ply their occupation some miles 

 from shore. 



Millais speaks of "large numbers frequenting the northern shore 

 of the Tay estuary, between Monifieth and Carnoustie, during the 

 winter, and they stay till April, when they leave in parties. A few 

 immature ones are seen about the Eden estuary, but from this part 

 northwards (1) adults are rare." 



Somateria molissima (L.). Eider Duck. 

 Abundant. Resident. Breeds. 



In several of our former volumes we have treated at considerable 

 length of the dispersal of the Eider Duck upon the west coasts of 

 Scotland. Now I desire to say, as shortly as possible, a few words 

 about the bird as found upon our east coasts. 



In 1840 Hewetson described the Eider Duck as a most abundant 

 species breeding on the coast of Norway. The distribution of the 

 Eider Duck, as given by Yarrell (1st ed., 1840) and Macgillivray 

 (1835) was: "Outer Hebrides, Orkney, on the authority of Salmon 

 and Dunn from 1812 to 1843." Their distribution on the east coast 

 of Britain has been known to include the same localities which are 

 now inhabited, without any great variation or important changes as 

 far south as the Farne Islands, during that same period. That is to 

 say, the ground which was and still is available and suitable has been 

 as fully occupied as persecution permitted. Since a share of special 

 protection has been accorded to them, along with other species, there 

 has been a distinct increase^ but there has been but slight expansion. 

 That is easily accounted for, simply because the available and suitable 

 areas are limited in extent, and are only of late years being filled 

 up. The most distinct increase has been observable on the recently 

 l)etter-protected area of the Tents Muir in the north-east corner of 

 the Kingdom of Fife, and on certain portions of the coast of East 

 Lothian (Forth). 



Only so short a time ago as 1880, Col. Drummond Hay could 

 record "a few pairs nesting on Tents Muir and Links of Barrie 

 (Forfarshire), though the birds were seen abundantly in winter off 



