OF THE NETHERLANDS. 



153 



The young in down in the collection van Wickevoort 

 Crommelin (256 — 5), captured near Santpoort, Noord- 

 Holland, 5 July 1860, does not belong to this species, is 

 even not a young of a diving-duck, but that of the domestic 

 race of Anas boschas. 



62. Somateria mollissima (L.).- [Eidereend]. 



As I have already communicated in the » Ornithologische 

 Monatsberichte" of 1906, the Eider Duck has bred in 1906 

 in Holland on the island of Vlieland. Through the kindness 

 of the mayor of Vlieland, Mr. J. Molenaar, the Museum 

 received three eggs of a clutch of four, found 7 June 

 1906 on the top of a dune on that island. Two further 

 nests, containing each three eggs, were found a few days 

 before and a few days later. The eggs measure 74,5 X 54, 

 78 X 55 and 76 X °5 mm. ; they are of dull greenish colour. 

 Mr. Molenaar informed me that already in the summer of 

 1905 Eiders have been seen on Vlieland, but then no eggs 

 were found; in 1907 three pairs of these ducks were seen 

 and one nest with five eggs was found, but unfortunately 

 destroyed by boys. Mr. Molenaar supposes, that in 1906 as 

 well as in 1907 incubations have succeeded. It is to hope, 

 that his supposition is right and that the Eider Duck may 

 become a regular breeding bird in Holland. In 1908 also 

 eggs have been found on Vlieland as well as on Terschelling, 

 where in 1906 and 1907 the bird also has been observed 

 and also eggs have been found. In winter Eiders visit our 

 couutry every year, but not always in the same number, 

 being in some years tolerably common, in others again 

 distinctly rare. As to the occurrence in the waters of the 

 province Zeeland the late Mr. T. M. Pike wrote to me, 

 that they appear annually in the Veeregat in small lots, 

 usually to be seen feeding over the musselbeds and stone 

 piers, which extend from Veere towards the Roompot. He 

 has seen on several occasions from 20 to 30 Eiders together 

 in the channels, which run through between the Neeltje 

 Jans Roggenplaat in the Ooster Schelde. 



Notes from the Leyden Museum, Vol. XXX. 



