362 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



shot in the island of Sanday, in Orkney, by Mr Strang, in October, 

 1831, as noticed by Messrs Baikie and Heddle at page 74 

 of their Natural History of Orkney; the other was shot in 

 Caithness-shire, and is still preserved in the collection of the late 

 Mr Sinclair of Wick. The first named seems to have been 

 overlooked by Mr Yarrell, but is referred to by Mr Macgillivray 

 (B. B., vol. v., p. 21). 



THE COMMON SHELLDEAKE. 



T ADORN A VULPANSER. 



Cradh-gheadh. 



THE Strand Goose, or Cradh-gheadh of the Hebrideans, is a very 

 common species, though only a summer visitant, over the whole 

 of the Long island. It is also numerous in Skye, Mull, Islay, 

 Jura, Colonsay, Muck, Tyree, and Coll, and indeed on nearly all 

 the smaller islands of any consequence in the inner group, where 

 it is found breeding. In North Uist it is often domesticated, and 

 becomes an ornamental addition to the poultry yard. I saw 

 several pairs in the autumn of 1867 on the farm of Mr J. 

 Macdonald, at Newton, mixing freely with the common ducks and 

 other poultry.* Mr Macdonald had also in his possession at the 

 time of my visit one or two hybrids between this bird and the 

 domestic duck, which were at once distinguishable by their curious 

 shape, long legs, and smarter movements. Its principal haunts 

 are on the west side of the outer islands, where there are large 

 tracts of sand and low pasture lands; but, even with these 

 attractions, the Shelldrake is sometimes not satisfied, as it has 

 been known to betake itself to inland haunts, and settle in burrows 

 on the open heath. In such situations, however, it is never far 

 from water the Long island being literally covered with lakes. 



* About two years ago, a beautiful male visited the farm of Woodland, near 

 Girvan, in Ayrshire, and voluntarily took up its quarters in the poultry yard. 

 Mr Cunningham, through whose courtesy I had an opportunity of seeing and 

 examining the bird, informs me that it came during a westerly gale, and imme- 

 diately joined the other ducks about the farm as if it had been accustomed to 

 their society. It daily goes to the beach, which is quite close to the farm- 

 steading, and frequently indulges in a short flight seawards, during which its 

 beautiful plumage is seen to great advantage. 



