ANATIDAE—DUCKS.
209
Diver." Mr. Hope says it is common on our coasts, arriving rather later in the
autumn than the Tufted Duck and Scaup. At Harwich it is fairly common in
winter (Kerry).
White-eyed Duck: Nyroca ferruginea.
An uncommon spring and winter visitor to Britain ; most often
met with on the East Coast. It has, doubtless, occurred from time
to time in Essex, but I have only one actual record.
A specimen (sex uncertain) taken in the Marsh House Decoy, Tillingham,
about ten years ago, is preserved at the Marsh House, where, through Mr.
Page's kindness, I have inspected it. It is the only specimen known to have been
taken thereabouts.
Long-tailed Duck : Harelda glacialis.
An uncommon winter visitor only to the Essex Coast.
Henry Doubleday
says (10) he saw
one in 1832 in a
Collection at Col-
chester, obtained on
the adjacent coast.
Yarrell says (14. iii.
166) : " It is con-
sidered a rare bird,
but has been killed
on the coasts of
Kent, Essex, Suf-
folk, and Norfolk."
One was shot at
Mersea Island, dur-
ing the severe win-
ter of 1837-38 (19.
34). Mr. Hope,
who has a pair in
summer plumage,
killed at Maldon in Feb., 1879, and a female in full plumage killed at Harwich
on Nov. 9th, 1887, says : " Young birds are common every winter." At Harwich
it is rare (Kerry). About the middle of Nov., 1887, one was shot at Southend
by Mr J. M. Burton (29. Nov. 19 ; & 41. ii. 12). Another was shot there in the
winter of 1860-61 (23. 7386).
Eider Duck : Somateria mollissima.
An uncommon winter visitor only to the Essex Coast.
A couple of males shot at Maldon on Jan. 3rd, 1865, were at first supposed
to be King Ducks (29. Jan. 14). Another female shot on the Blackwater, near
Maldon, on Oct. 23rd, 1875, was also recorded as a King Duck (29. Nov. 6th,
20th, & Dec. nth ; & 34. 4766), a mistake afterwards corrected. Mr. A. H.
Norman shot three out of a party of four near Southend during the severe weather
in Dec., 1875 (29. Dec. 25). Dr. Bree records an immature male shot at Mersea
on Dec. 19. 1867 (29. Jan. 4.) Round Harwich, it is " rare," though two have
P