34S THE ZOOLOGIST. 



ON THE NESTING OF THE TUFTED DUCK 



IN KIRKCUDBRIGHTSHIRE. 



By Robert Service. 



The Tufted Duck has of late years been gradually extending 

 its breeding range in the British Islands, though I am not aware 

 that its greater abundance or wider distribution in the winter 

 months has been noticed in print. 



Whatever may be the case elsewhere, it is certain that in this 

 district Tufted Ducks are far more frequently observed now than 

 they were previous to (say) 1880. Until about that period I very 

 seldom ever saw it, and only in certain favoured localities. Since 

 then it has become comparatively common, and may be observed 

 singly, or in small parties of half a dozen or more, every winter on 

 almost all the lochs of this district. 



I cannot say that any corresponding increase in number has 

 been noticed on the Solway Firth. On tiie Kirkcudbrightshire 

 Solway it is very uncommon. Mr. Armistead states (' Naturalist,' 

 1886, p. 72) that he has seen two which were killed on the Firth, 

 but that it is decidedly rare. In reference to this remark the 

 Rev. H. A. Macpherson subsequently wrote (p. 150) that "The 

 Tufted Duck is fairly common on the upper parts of the Solway." 

 Owing to the different meanings evidently attached to the word 

 " Solway," we are left in doubt whether the actual waters of the 

 Firth are meant or not. The authors of the ' Birds of Cumber- 

 land' characterize it as "a winter visitant, constantly present 

 with us from November to April, and tolerably plentiful near the 

 Solway, being less frequently met with far inland." 



There is a prevalent idea amongst sportsmen here that it is 

 one of the hard-weather fowl, and perhaps formerly this notion 

 had some foundation, but for several years past this duck has 

 made its annual appearance in winter in considerable numbers, 

 quite irrespective of weather. Sir Wm. Jardine has remarked : — 

 " On the Solway we have observed it in a much less proportion 

 [than the Scaup], and only in small parties together. Its 

 describers consider it more lacustrine than the Scaup, and we 

 have frequently shot specimens in the Annan, fifteen or twenty 

 miles from the sea ; the weather, however, was always sevei-e 



