236 



BIRDS. 



it in his list. But then neither is its name included in the latest 

 Guule to the Perth Museum (1905), upon a copy of which Mr. 

 M'Connochie worked in his list. 



Dafila acuta (L.). Pintail. 



"At one time only a casual visitor/' according to Col. Drummond Hay, 

 i.e. prior to 1880. But now, resident and breeds. 



An early record is given for Fife (Forth), viz. an adult male 

 sent by the late Mr. Edward Hargitt and exhibited by Dr. J. A. Smith 

 at a meeting of the Eoyal Physical Society, Edinburgh (vol. ii., 

 1858-9), which was shot in December 1858. 



At the date of 1873-4 Mr. W. A. Brown had shot examples on 

 the tidal Tay, and on the Eden; but he considered it "quite a 

 rarity " at that time. 



In the north-east, even at the present time, it is considered a 

 " rare winter visitant in the east of Forfarshire " by Dr. Dewar. 



In 1897 Mr. Milne adds it as "new to my list for Kincardine- 

 shire," and instances " one caught at Johnshaven, for the first time." 



Of its more recent advances and increase, I may instance the 

 following note from Mr. J. G. Millais. When speaking of a hybrid 

 between the Wigeon and Pintail, he remarks upon the apparent 

 increase as follows: "Now (1890) a w^inter does not pass without 

 a pair or two of Pintails." This is an interesting chronological note 

 in the light of recent discoveries of the nesting of the Pintail at 

 Loch Leven (Forth). 



Millais sums up his experiences of the species thus : " A visitor 

 in small numbers to the Tay and Eden estuaries, where I have shot 

 it. In some seasons quite a number come about Mugdrum, and they 

 are abundant on Loch Leven, where about twenty pairs nest (Forth). 

 I have not heard of its breeding in Perthshire, but I have no doubt 

 it will soon do so. Pintails are the shyest of all surface-feeding Ducks, 

 and are very difficult to shoot." He then refers to the above-men- 

 tioned hybrid in his possession, which was shot on the Earn. 



Mr. M'Connochie includes it as occasionally shot on the lochs in 

 winter. 



Mareca penelope (L.). Wigeon. 



Abundant. Resident. Breeds. 



Col. Drummond Hay has it as "pretty frequent on lower Tay, 

 and appearing on many of the lochs and streams," but he makes no 



