9 8) 
NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE. 7 
[The MANDARIN - DUCK: AL% Galericulata 
(Linneus). <A pair of these Ducks were shot on the river 
Sark in the winter of 1913-14, and passed into the possession 
of Mr Cleeberg. The species, which is a native of Formosa 
and central and southern China, was for long kept in semi- 
domesticity at Netherby (Cumberland) where it used to nest 
full-winged and whence doubtless the above-mentioned pair 
had strayed. Sir Richard Graham has informed me that all 
his Mandarin Duck have now been killed." ] 
The MALLARD (p. 265). The best night’s “‘ flighting,”’ 
that I have heard of being obtained locally, was got at 
Shieldhill (Tinwald) in the winter of 1894-5, when forty-six 
Mallard were shot in one evening. 
On 25th January, 1912, a pure white duck was seen, in 
company with several normal Mallard, near Drumlanrig 
(Durisdeer): the hand-rearing of ‘‘ Wild Duck,’’ however, 
deprives such records of much of their interest. 
It is well known that the females of this species occa- 
sionally assume the plumage of the male but it is always 
interesting when exact data as to such occurrences are forth- 
coming. Mrs Keswick of Cowhill informs me that a Wild 
Duck, which was hatched in 1914, was hand-reared and 
subsequently mated with an Aylesbury Drake and later with 
a Buff Orpington Drake. In nearly all the ducklings ob- 
tained from these unions the ‘‘ Mallard-strain’’ pre- 
dominated. In 1919 the Wild Duck laid her last clutch of 
eggs and in the following year took on drake’s plumage: 
thereafter the change became more marked after each moult, 
so that in the winter of 1922 she had completely assumed the 
plumage, including the curly tail-feathers, of her opposite 
Sex. 
I cannot help thinking that Mallard have increased 
locally of recent years: this supposition is not only borne 
out by my “‘ game-book,’’ but also by the number of pairs 
to be seen on our lochs in the breeding season. 
A brood of seven ducklings was seen on the pond near 
Lincluden House, just over the boundary of Dumfriesshire, 
150 Sir Richard Graham: in litt., 4th January, 1921. 
