Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/85

Rh tame, and I frequently watched them through the glasses sleeping on the water not twenty yards away. The drake had not yet attained full plumage, being still brown on the back, and with the white forehead, though its head and neck were nearly black.

(Somateria mollissima).—The Eider was by far the commonest Duck. Single pairs and small flocks of eight to fifteen could be seen at any time among the rocks busily feeding, and they were often noticed fighting and chasing one another, when some choice morsel was secured by one of them. So tame were they that when one went out on to the rocks close to them they only swam off a few yards into deeper water. All the drakes but one seen were fully adult birds in winter plumage, the exception being in partial eclipse, though evidently fast getting his full winter dress.

(Œdemia nigra).—One pair only was seen off St. Mary's Holm on Oct. 4th.

(Œdemia fusca).—Not seen on the mainland, but five birds of this species rose in front of the steamer on Oct. 18th, off Hoxa, in South Ronaldshay.

(Mergus serrator).—Two birds of this species were seen in the sound off Grœmeshall on Oct. 6th, three more farther east on Oct. 13th, and four more in the bay at St. Mary's Holm on Oct. 17th, near which place there was a nest this year. All were in the immature plumage, and, though I went quite close to them on the 13th and 17th, I could see no signs of any dark feathers coming on the necks of any.

(Columba livia).—The Rock-Doves breed in considerable numbers in the caves at the east end of the mainland, and, though they are said to be less numerous than they were twenty years ago, there does not appear to be much danger of their extermination, the coast being very exposed, and quite unapproachable except in a flat calm, and even then they are by no means easy to shoot. The majority seemed to be pure bred birds, but it is evident that the tame birds interbreed with them in the caves, and the wild birds are said to visit the dovecots in the winter. One bird seen was nearly white, while another had many brown feathers in the wings and scapulars; and two others had white heads. At this time of the year they feed almost entirely on the stubbles, returning to the cliffs as soon as their crops are full.