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to the river from Perth downwards where gun licenses have been issued, 

 we should have a goodly regiment, even supposing two-thirds only shot 

 on the Tay, and that a mere tithe of these did so out of season, still 

 there would be sufficient left to do the most serious damage. It is 

 these abuses Avhich do so much harm, and which I would like to see 

 every Natural History Society, as well as all promoters of the welfare 

 of our l)irds, make common cause to suppress. Why should not something 

 be got up like our Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 

 by raising a small fund to enforce, if possible, prosecution in such cases 1 

 What more cruel or heedless than to shoot a bird off its nest and allow 

 the young to die of starvation 1 and yet tliis is frequently done, and witli 

 impunity. I will now proceed to some of our resident swimming 

 birds. The first is the Shieldrake, formerly abundant on all the lower 

 parts of the estuary, breeding in the rabbit burrows on Tents-muir and 

 Barry. In autumn and early winter I have seen them assembled in 

 considerable flocks, coming up and returning with the tide, but seldom 

 ascending much farther than the head of ]\Iugdrum Island. Being a 

 worthless bird for the table, it is seldom sought after excepting for tlie 

 beauty of its plumage, the wild fowl shooter easily distinguishing it 

 from other ducks, even on the darkest night, by its pecidiar croalc. 

 From the Shieldrake never changing its plumage like other ducks after 

 it has come to maturity, but retaining its beautiful colours at all seasons, 

 it has always been a special favourite — the more so as it stands confine- 

 ment well and is easily domesticated, thus becoming a very attractive 

 addition either to the poultry-yard or the pond. The eggs, therefore, 

 being in demand for this purpose, the birds suffer much in consequence, 

 but more especially do they do so from reckless rohhery from mere 

 wantonness. Passing over the Wild Duck and Teal, already alluded 

 to, which, like the rest, from continual firing and egg-robbery, have 

 become greatly reduced and scared from their former haunts, we come 

 to what may be considered, with the exception of the Blackheaded Gull, 

 to be more truly sea birds, especially the Guillemot and KazorbiU, found 

 only on the salt water, in the lower parts of the estuary, and at 

 the mouth of the river. Both these birds have also very materially 

 decreased of late years, not only here, biit all along our line 

 of coast ; and where I can recollect them in hundreds, such as 

 at St Abb's Head and Flamborough, comparatively few are now to be 

 seen, and the numerous flocks which then frequented the mouth of the 

 Tay have now, with few exceptions, nearly disappeared. For the 

 reasons we have not far to go : — the wholesale destruction which every- 

 where took place without check or hindrance. Not to dwell too long 

 on these, I pass to the Gulls, of Avhich we have six resident 



