230 



BIRDS. 



Tents Muir, but which area has now been merged in more general 

 legislation by the succeeding Secretary for Scotland. ^ 



The lands of Barry also were occupied by quite a number of 

 these birds, nesting in the rabbit-holes, and which seldom were 

 found to stray far from their homes, and are seldom seen further 

 up the tidal Tay than the upper end of Mugdrum Island. 



Mr. Milne informs me that a pair had been introduced to the 

 ponds at Drumtochty, but only the female had survived by 1895. 



Both old and young are found about Johnshaven {aud. D. Towers, 

 late taxidermist at Montrose). 



In 1900 an attempt by these birds was made to extend their 

 breeding range to the links of Montrose, but was defeated by three 

 of the young having been stoned to death by some young "cads " of 

 the town {Montrose Standard, 8th June 1900) ; and a whole brood 

 of young "Mire Ducks" met with a similar fate the year before. 

 Such cases are what ought to occupy more attention than they do 

 from our County Councils. (Much law-making, and less and less 

 enforcement; often, however, because the laws are incompetent!) 



Millais relates that he once saw a flock of 500 Shelducks at 

 the mouth of the Eden. He says : " They are always very wild 

 and watchful, and are much trouble to the puntsman." 



Shelducks may almost at any time be seen in large numbers off 

 the mouths of Tay and Eden; and I have various other accounts 

 of flocks of these birds from several observers, and have myself 

 frequently seen them in considerable numbers there, especially at 

 the latter locality. 



Anas boscas, L. Common Wild Duck, or Mallard. 



Old Gaelic name, Lacha chinn uuine (old Statistical Account, xvii. 

 p. 252). 



The old Statistical Account often speaks of "Wild Ducks," and it 

 is not easy always to feel certain what species is intended, so I 

 prefer to ignore the most of the records in that work ; besides there 

 are not a great many entries in it altogether. 



It is reported fairly abundant in Forfar and Kincardine by 

 correspondents, and seems to become more numerous the further 

 inland its distribution is followed, at least in the breeding season, 



^ I have considered it well worthy to put the fact on permanent record of the 

 direct advantages accruing from local knoioledge, as shown in the case of Tents Muir, by- 

 giving a map of the district above referred to (see p. 278). 



