EIDER. 
3 
wanting. The colours of the soft parts taken down on tlie spot may be thus described : Beaks a dusky olive- 
green with a sliadc of yellow towards the point, nail lighter ; legs and toes a dull greenish yellow, webs a dark 
grey ; iris hazel. 
The plumage of the adult males, I conclude from observations made on fresh-killed specimens, may 
be considered to be in the most perfect state about the end of January. So early as April the feathers 
show signs of wear, becoming by degrees more shabby till the general moult takes place towards the close 
of summer. 
Large numbers of drakes frequented the Eirth of Forth a few years back ; in l\Iay 18GT and again 
in 1867 I repeatedly remarked flocks numbering from twenty to thirty, unaccompanied for the most part by 
females, making tbeir way along the coast to the east of Dunbar. These birds usually flew in single file at 
the distance of about six feet apart, the long string of piebald fowl presenting a most singular and striking 
appearance. At tins season, tbough their colours seem bright when viewed on wing, the plumage if closely 
examined will be found to have lost much of the gloss and beauty exhibited a few months earlier. During 
the latter end of May 1867, while staying at Canty Bay for the purpose of obtaining specimens in the adult 
summer plumage, I succeeded in procuring several drakes, and discovered that the whole of the primaries 
as well as the tail had faded to a rusty brown tint ; the sickle-shaped secondaries were also much frayed 
at the points, in some instances the quills being perfectly bare. Several authors describe the inner elongated 
curved secondaries as white ; this I have only found to be tbe case in males showing immature plumage ; 
these feathers on adults in the most perfect state are pale buff with a sulphurous tinge. 
The number of Eiders that resorted to this part of the coast twenty years back may be imagined by 
the following abridged remarks from my notes concerning the specimens described above. 
Under the impression on the 25th of May (wind blowing strong from the east with a heavy sea rolling 
into the bay) that the flocks wbich had hitherto proved utterly unapproachable would be sheltering on the 
rocks and in the still water to the west of the island, I went afloat and proceeded up the Firth. In a small 
creek on the south side of Fidra a landing Avas effected at the second or third attempt ; and by crawling 
over the slippery ledges of weed-grown rock I succeeded in reaching a point from which I was enabled 
to examine the Avestern shore. At least thirty drakes, the majority in full plumage, Avere floating on the 
water, a few ducks and immature birds being also scattered here and there, Avhile Avithin ten yards of 
my place of concealment a dozen old males rested quietly in fancied security, Avith heads turned over 
on their backs. After Avatching the assemblage for some time, I secured sufficient specimens to meet all 
requirements in three shots, and further slaughter being unnecessary. Eiders were unmolested for the 
remainder of the day. The same birds in all probability were again encountered to the west of Ebris; 
another party, hoAvever, consisting of over twenty females and one male, rose on our approach, and after 
wheeling for a time over tbe breakers, settled among the rocks on the shore to the east of Gullane. 
Many other chances for procuring specimens were offered by birds feeding along the sands ; and I have 
not the slightest hesitation in stating that, had there been any necessity, at least fifty Eiders might have 
been shot before Ave finally made the land. Unable to return by sea to Canty Bay, oAving to the force of 
the Avind and easterly SAvell, Ave ran ashore in Gullane Bay and, procuring a cart, brought our craft home 
by road. On all subsequent visits to this part of the coast I remarked that Eiders had greatly decreased in 
numbers. 
On several occasions Avhile shooting in the Channel about Rye Bay and off Pevensey Level durin" the 
winter months of 1858 and tbe four following years, flocks of large foAvl, Avhich I failed to identify, owin" to 
their excessive wildness, Avere sighted a fcAV miles off' the land. Owing to the remarks in several Avorks in my 
possession concerning the distribution of this species, I remained in ignorance that the Eider Avas a regular 
autumn and winter visitor to the English Channel till on January the 8th, 1881, a coast-gunner (who had seen 
