Eider-Duck 
and these form small parties which move away to isolated skerries or rocks, where they 
seem anxious to avoid observation. 
I spent the month of June and early July in 1885 in Stromness, Orkneys, being 
anxious to obtain male Eiders going into or assuming eclipse plumage. A very few were 
still found singly about the nesting places on Hoy and Pomona until June 10. Then 
parties of males, still in the black-and-white plumage, were noticed almost daily off 
Lywra Burn, Reisa Little, and a small island in the middle of the Bring known as the 
Barrel of Butter. These parties became larger as the month proceeded, but when found 
were remarkably tame, and I could always sail my boat to within 30 yards of them 
before they took to wing. On July i I missed them, and it was two days before I 
sighted a large flock resting on the Barrel of Butter quite three-quarters of a mile away. 
The day was very calm, and I was astonished to see the birds rush into the water 
and make all haste to disappear as if much frightened. I then noticed that at least two-thirds 
of the birds were unable to fly, and were flapping over the water in a helpless manner. After 
going some distance they ceased this mode of progression, and all dived and scattered 
in every direction, only three or four birds, still in the black-and-white plumage, taking to 
wing. I did not obtain a single shot. During the following week I found the male Eiders 
three times, and on every occasion they took fright at distances ranging from a quarter 
to three-quarters of a mile, and it was only by chance I killed one male in half-eclipse. 
Subsequent journeys in search of eclipse birds in the Orkneys, Shetlands, and the 
Hebrides have convinced me that great fear comes upon these birds whilst in the flightless 
stage, and that it is not until the beginning of September, when the eclipse plumage 
is quite complete, and the wings are just capable of bearing them in flight that the male 
Eider is again approachable. I have, however, twice surprised large parties of eclipse 
males when at rest on shore, and driven them shorewards without their scattering. This, 
however, required slow and careful manoeuvring. In both cases on the west coast of 
N. Uist the birds took to the rocks, evidently fearing to dive towards the boat, and after 
running over them, those which could fly took to wing and came past me within easy 
range. I secured two on the first occasion, and five on the second, before they flew out 
of shot. 
These N. Uist birds were tamer than any I have seen in the Orkneys or Shetlands 
in the autumn, and yet when stalking seals I have often been surprised at their quick 
eyesight and retreat from the rocks when I essayed a stalk ofl'-shore. I never once 
succeeded in stalking one I had previously marked, although the rocks were favourable 
to a hidden advance, but one day having failed in a stalk at a seal, I took a shot 
with my Mannlicher rifle at a male Eider that was sitting out on the sea at about 230 
yards, and was lucky enough to kill it dead. It was the best specimen of an eclipse bird 
I have secured, and is figured by Mr. Murray Dixon in the coloured plate. 
I think the young remain in the nest for several hours after they are hatched, in fact 
until they are quite dry. I was stalking seals on Damsey Island, Orkneys, one morning 
about the end of June, and disturbed a female Eider from her nest in which were four 
newly-hatched young, quite wet, with the broken egg-shells beside them. At midday the 
young were still there, with the mother sitting beside them ; but in the evening, as I left the 
island, I saw the female with her young on the water's edge. 
