180 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



Common Sheld-duck, Tadorna cornuia (S. G. Gmelin). — In the 

 beginning of August, broods of young, accompanied by their 

 parents, are common about the shore, where they remain till 

 the end of October, and then depart ; but some reappear in 

 January, and many in February, when bunches, containing 

 up to 50 birds, are to be seen in Poteath and Fence Bays. 



Mallard, Anas boscas, Linn. — A few parties of local birds are 

 usually about in August and September. In October it 

 becomes more abundant by the arrival of others from the 

 north ; and this month sees an alteration in their habits, as 

 they become almost entirely night-feeders, and are not so 

 often seen on the flats in the daytime as they were earlier 

 in the season. They generally go inland at night when the 

 the weather is open, and resort to the small sheets of water 

 among the hills, and also to the potato-fields ; but in frosty 

 weather they betake themselves to the burns running 

 through the Zoslei^a-heds when the tide is low. 



Teal, Nettion crecca (Linn.). — Fairly common in September and 

 October, and only numerous in winter, when hard weather 

 prevails inland. 



Wigeon, Mareca penelope (Linn.). — The most abundant of all the 



ducks here. Small parties make their appearance in 



September, the earliest date I have being the 1 2th ; and 



their numbers gradually increase in October and November 



reaching the maximum in December. At first they mostly 



feed in Poteath Bay, but with the turn of the year Fence 



Bay becomes more popular with them. If the tide happens 



to be out about an hour after sunset, when they flight in 



from the sea, they alight on the beds of Zostera, far out 



from the shore ; but as the night wears on, they approach 



the shore edges, and may then be seen, if the moon is 



shining, within 50 yards of the public road bordering Fence 



Bay. No bird is perhaps better known here than the 



Wigeon ; and although the main object of pursuit of a 



number of keen wild-fowlers, I very much question if 10 



per cent, of their numbers are shot in a season. 



Tufted Duck, Fuligula cristata (Leach). — Rather rare here, but 

 occasionally a solitary bird is observed. I have only once 

 come across a number together, namely, one frosty morning 

 in November, when about 40 were noticed at the Black Rock. 



