172 BIRDS. 



Chaulelasmus streperus (L.). Gadwall. 



Mr. Irvine-Fortescue tells us that he, on one occasion only, came 

 across this bird in Orkney. On December 4th, 1880, he saw a 

 flock of six or eight on the loch of Harray, near the standing 

 stones of Stenness, at the holms of Wasbister. He " set up " to 

 them in his gunning punt, but they took alarm before he was 

 well within range, and he only got three; he never saw the 

 rest again, though he went to look for them. The gizzards of 

 those obtained only contained a few stalks of some water 

 plant. We saw the skin of one of the above-mentioned birds 

 in that gentleman's possession. 



Mr. Watt informs us that the Gadwall is a winter visitor, 

 and is to be seen occasionally, in pairs, on the loch of Skaill. 



Spatula clypeata (L.). Shoveller. 



Besides the instance recorded by Messrs. Baikie and Heddle, Mr. 

 Moodie-Heddle of Melsetter informs us that he shot a Shoveller 

 at that place in 1873, and has several times seen them; and 

 Mr. Millais says that several have been shot in the North Isles, 

 especially in Sanday. 



Querquedula crecca (L.). Teal. 



Fairly numerous, and breeds in several of the islands, as at the 

 lochs of Skaill and Tankerness on the Mainland, and on Sanday. 

 It was by no means common in Eousay, nor did we note it as 

 breeding there in 1883, though Mr. Reid, S. Ronaldsay, tells 

 us he has seen Teal's eggs taken from the head of the burn 

 which flows past Trumbland House. 



Querquedula circia (L). Garganey Teal. 



From the little information we have of this species it must be a 

 very rare bird. In a pencil note by the late Robert Heddle, 

 it is stated that one was killed in Sanday in March 1820 by 

 Mr. Strang. 



