55 
but I have seen some very fine old males lately in the game shops 
(sent from the neighbourhood of Gretna.—M.). 
Of the Ducks that frequent our marshes, the Wigeon (JZ. penelope) 
is perhaps the commonest.* They begin to make their appearance 
_ about the end of September, and leave us again in April. Being 
essentially night feeders, large numbers are shot by watching the 
floshes (as the small ponds of water left by the tide are called), 
where they come to feed as the night comes on. Mallards (A. 
boschas) are generally to be found distributed among the creeks. 
Teals (Q. crecca), though scarcer than the last named, are always 
to be seen during the winter months. That very beautiful bird 
the Shieldrake (Z: cornufa) is permanently met with; and last 
_ season I heard of at least half-a-dozen nests that were taken in the 
- neighbourhood of the marshes. One peculiarity I have noticed in 
connection with this bird is that it seems to continue in pairs all 
all the year round, although in winter and spring it may sometimes 
_ be seen in small flocks. In spring, or during the mating season, 
it has a habit of erecting itself, thrusting forward its neck, and 
f shaking its head as if it were choking or trying to swallow some 
hard substance ; which, when seen through a glass, looks very 
ridiculous ; but this appears to be only an act of attention to the 
female. Being a shy bird, and as it generally frequents the large 
flats of sand, it is not easily approached. Although several birds 
have been kept for years in a domesticated state in my district, I 
have never heard of them breeding under artificial conditions. 
The female is much smaller than the male ; it also differs in wanting 
‘the knob at the base of the bill. Goldeneyes (C. glaucion) are to 
be met with from the end of October to the early part of April in 
“fairly large numbers, especially the young and the females, which, 
with us go under the name of Wigeons. Goldeneyes have the 
faculty of sinking their bodies deeper into the water, which they 
do when at all suspicious of danger; but when undisturbed they 
_ *T should have thought that the Goldeneye was perhaps the commonest, but 
the Mallard is very abundant. I fancy the vaves¢ duck that visits the upper 
Solway is the Long-tailed Duck, which I only once met with, in Novembet, 
But young birds have been shot at King Garth.—M, 
