Eider-Duck 13 
of the Borders, 2nd ed., pp. 370-1). Until about 1856 three pairs bred on the Coquet 
Isles, but Mr. A. H. Evans thought these had long since disappeared {Fauna of Tweed, 
p. 168). Mr. G. Bolam, however, gives details of nesting there in 1874 and probably in 
1875. Several pairs nest on Ross Links, Northumberland, and occasionally on Holy Island 
(t. c, p. 167). Full details of the nesting of Eiders in Northumberland are given in Mr. G. 
Bolam's Birds of Nor t/mmber land and E. Borders (pp. 402-8). There are no records 
of the nesting of this species in Wales, whilst the first record of breeding in Ireland in 
Co. Donegal in 19 12 is to be found in British Birds, vi. pp. 106, 166. 
Scotland. — It occasionally nests on the Berwickshire coast (Bolam, t. c, p. 403), and 
becomes more numerous towards the north. I have seen old females and young off 
Dunbar and Aberlady sands, near North Berwick, in August. It also breeds on the islands 
of the Forth, particularly the Isle of May, and a few nest on the coast of S. Fife. In 
N.E. Fife it is common, and at least ten to twenty bring off broods on Tents Muir every 
year. It also nests from Monifieth to Carnoustie on the Buddon Ness sandhills, and 
between Carnoustie and Arbroath I have generally seen ten to twenty females with young 
in August. In this locality it is known by the curious name of " Moss-cock," as well as 
" Dunter." All along the coast of Forfarshire as far as Aberdeen a few Eiders breed, but 
are much harried by the local salmon fishers. It breeds abundantly at the mouth of the 
Ythan, in Aberdeenshire (G. Sim, V. F, of Dee, p. 152). I have seen Eiders with young 
off E. Culbin Sands, Morayshire, and I think it also nests on the Banff coast. It does not 
seem to come west of Forres except in winter, and is not again found breeding till we come 
to the Sutherland coast about Brora and Helmsdale, where I have seen females with small 
young ones. It breeds in varying numbers from John o' Groat's to Cape Wrath about the 
mouth of the Naver and down the west coast of Sutherland (for details of its increase in this 
area, see V. F. of N.W. Highlands, pp. 242-9). In all the western islands the Eider is 
now extending its range. When I first used to go to N. Uist, thirty years ago. Eiders 
were comparatively scarce, now they breed in large numbers down the west side of both 
N. and S. Uist, whilst a few nest also on the eastern side. They are also very common 
in Harris and the Lews on the Atlantic side. The bird is also extending its range through 
all the inner isles (cf. V. F. Argyll, p. 135), and is to be found breeding on Islay, Jura, 
Gigha, Colonsay, and on nearly all the small islets off Skye and the north-west coasts of 
Ross and Argyll. In fact, when seal-hunting in summer and autumn, I have rarely failed 
to observe parties of old and young Eiders in the neighbourhood of islands from Suther- 
land to the mouth of the Clyde. It also breeds on Haskeir and St. Kilda and the west 
side of Mull, lona, and Cantyre. On the mainland it is said to be spreading in the Clyde 
area [A. S. Nat. Hist., 1910, p. 183), and was first found breeding in Kirkcudbright in 1908 
{Birds of Dumfries, p. 293). 
The Eider is abundant in Orkney, and I have found it breeding wherever the coast- 
line falls to the sea, so that females may have no difficulty in bringing their broods to the 
water. They particularly prefer small islands on which to nest, and I have seen as many 
as ten nests on one small island in the Bay of Firth. Along the north side of Hoy, and 
on the islands of Reisa Little and other islands of the Bring, many Eiders breed, as well as 
on Rousay and on all the other islands where the cliffs are not too steep. The species is 
very common throughout the Shetlands, and I have seen breeding birds in numbers on 
