194 
BIRDS. 
236. Somateria mollissima (L.). Eider Duck. 
Said by St. John to breed on the islands off the Kyle of 
Tongue ; there are specimens of this bird in the Dun- 
robin Museum. Breeds in small numbers at Eilean Hoan, 
at the entrance of Loch EriboU, and other scattered localities 
on the north coast. In 1882 Harvie-Brown found broken 
egg-shells of eider duck upon Eilean Chlaimraig, close to 
Eilean Hoan, apparently broken by gulls, and the site of a 
nest of the previous year was pointed out by the fisherman 
who accompanied him. 
Occurs but rarely in Caithness, and Mr. Osborne never saw 
nor obtained a specimen. 
In 1885 we saw eider duck's eggs which had been taken 
on the Pentland Skerries, where these birds breed every 
year. 
237. Somateria spectabilis (L.). King Eider. 
238. Somateria stelleri (Pall.). Stelier's Duck. 
239. CEdemia fusca (L.). Velvet Scoter. 
Winter visitant, haunting the banks at the mouth of the 
Little Eerry, the Dornoch Firth, and also those towards 
Golspie. About 1870 they used to be met with opposite 
Kintradwell, but are rarely seen there now. Perhaps the 
bank there may have shifted or got too deep for the birds 
to reach by diving. 
A regular but not abundant visitor to Caithness, only appear- 
ing in the depth of winter (0. MSS., 1868). 
240. CEdemia nigra (L.). Black Scoter. 
Winter resident, not rare on the south-east coast. Dr. Joass 
of Golspie informs us that this species bred in Sutherland 
