BIKDS. 171 



in the North than the South Isles, generally building in rabbit- 

 burrows, though the Kousay keeper reported to us in 1883 that 

 a Sheldrake had its nest under a large overhanging bunch of 

 heather, above a fresh-water loch some distance from the sea. 



Mr. Moodie-Heddle says he once watched a Sheldrake coming 

 out of a rabbit-burrow where she had her nest, and noticed that 

 she dragged her spread-out tail over the sand at the mouth, 

 most likely to prevent her tracks from being seen. 



The same gentleman informs us they make good pets, but 

 are so fond of strawberries that it takes some ingenuity to keep 

 them away from the beds, once they have found them out. 



They seem, from what we have been told, to be very 

 courageous and pugnacious, one that the late Mr. Eanken had, 

 tame, having lost an eye in a fight with a barn-door cock. 



Mr. Irvine-Fortescue says they are very rare in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Swanbister, never more than two pairs at most 

 being seen there ; he heard of a nest at Waulkmill Bay. 



During our visit to Orkney in June 1888 we found Sheldrakes 

 very abundant through some of the North Isles, nowhere more 

 so than on the island of Sanday; they were rare, or absent, 

 through the Westray group and N. Konaldsay. 



They now seem more inclined to remain the winter through 

 than in Low's time, and Mr. Harvey, in a letter from Sanday, 

 28th of January 1888, writes us that Sheldrakes have been 

 there for two or three weeks. Mr. E. S. Cameron of Burgar 

 has also shot these birds there, in February 1886. 



Anas boscas, L. Wild Duck. 



. Stock Duck. 



Common and resident, receiving large additions to its numbers 

 in the winter. The Wild Duck is one of those birds that suffer 

 greatly from "egging," and also the advance of agriculture. 

 They much frequent the smaller holms in winter, being almost 

 undisturbed in such situations. We have often noticed, when 

 watching a flock in winter, that the individuals composing it 

 seemed all paired. The mallard moults first, the duck apparently 

 being able to use her wings as long as the young need her care. 



