104 On the Occurrence of some of the liarer Species of Birds 



Clangula Glaucion. " The Golden Eye." This handsome Duck 

 has been obtained in our water-meadows, but rarely. A fine male 

 bird was shot by the keeper here some years ago, and is now pre- 

 served at the Moat in this parish. There are one or two other 

 occurrences that I can also mention from the district. A fine mature 

 male bird was killed at Silton in Dorset, on the mill-pond, in 

 January, 1875 ; and another the year previous, at Stourton. An 

 immature bird was also shot at Mere, by Mr. J. Coward, in the 

 winter of 1880. They occur occasionally also at Christchurch, but 

 chiefly as immature birds. Hart, however, has a nice adult pair in 

 his collection, killed in the harbour. The male bird cannot well be 

 mistaken for any other Duck ; although I have known the golden 

 eye of the Tufted Duck cause it to be mistaken for the present 

 species : though, if seen together, there is no possibility of mistake. 



Somateria Mollissima. " The Eider Duck." Not generally found 

 south, and never inland ; but it is occasionally to be seen at 

 Christchurch and Poole. Hart tells me there have been eight or 

 nine instances of their more recent oecurrence in that district, but 

 they are almost always immature specimens. Hart has, however, 

 one adult male in perfect plumage, that was killed in the Solent in 

 the winter of 1879-80. The Rev. A. C. Smith mentions that a 

 specimen of this bird was killed some time ago at Lyneham, the 

 property of Mr. Heneage, which was then in the hall of Compton 

 Basset House. 



Somateria Spectabilis. "The King Eider." A most striking 

 looking bird is this, and even handsomer than the last-named one, 

 but it is much rarer. It can be distinguished at once from the 

 other by the red colour of the beak and legs. The late Mr. Marsh 

 had one of these birds in his collection, reported to be killed in the 

 county. But you cannot expect to find it anywhere exeept in the 

 Orkneys. I mention it as having lately seen a fine pair of these 

 birds in Mr. E. Jacob's collection in the Close, which he told me 

 had been brought to him when he was in those islands. 



Oidemia Nigra. " The Common Scoter." We come now to the 

 Scoters ; veritable ocean birds, and not to be^found elsewhere. This 

 bird may be found in the neighbourhood of Christchurch all the 



