The Scottish Naturalist. 339 



is in my own collection, shot on the Tay opposite Newburgh in 

 the winter of 1820. 



Cygnus olor, Boie. (Mute Swan.) 



The Mute Swan is now and then to be seen on tlie Tay and 

 Earn, as also on our lochs, during severe winters, and several 

 examples have from time to time been shot. Though known 

 to be wild in Denmark and north-eastern Europe, they are not 

 usually considered to be found wild in this country, but, like the 

 Canada and Egyptian Geese, to be merely frozen-out domesti- 

 cated birds. I have, however, seen them more than once flying 

 up the Tay in small parties of three to seven birds, with all the 

 strength of wing of any wild ones, and I see no reason to doubt 

 why they should not occasionally be so. 



Cygnus ferus. Leech. (Wild Swan or Whooper.) 



Though many instances occur in severe winters of the Whooper 

 being obtained in the district, their visits are too irregular to 

 admit of their being considered more than occasional. Sixteen 

 in a flock have been counted at one time passing up the Tay a 

 year or two ago. 



118. Tadorna vulpanser, Flem. (Sheildrake.) 



This I have found pretty abundant in the lower part of the 

 Tay, breeding in the rabbit-burrows on Tents Muir ; and Mr 

 Nelson mentions their also breeding on the sands of Barry. In 

 autumn and winter the Sheildrake assembles in pretty large 

 flocks, coming up and returning with the tide, but seldom ascend- 

 ing much farther than the head of Mugdrum Island, and is 

 easily distinguished from other ducks, though in the dark, by 

 the peculiar croak. 



119. Mareca Penelope, Selb. (Widgeon.) 



The Widgeon is pretty frequent every winter and autumn, 

 sometimes appearing in considerable numbers on many of our 

 lochs and rivers, as also on the lower parts of the Tay, where 

 they have considerably decreased of late years. 



Spatula clypeata, Boie. (Shoveller.) 



There are a few instances of the Shoveller being shot in the 

 Tay at long intervals. Mr Thomas Marshall of Stanley makes 

 mention of a male and female being noticed at Balathie in the 



