BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 
spring. Captain G. L. Walker, of Crawfordton (Glencairn), 
teUs me one of the Black Swans disappeared from his lake 
about the time of the first appearance of the bird at 
Lochmaben; so that presumably it came from Craw- 
fordton. A Black Swan is recorded as seen some years 
prior to 1829 on the Sand Loch,* a piece of water near 
Dumfries, which has since been drained ; and Mr. R. Arm- 
strong writes me that he saw one on the New Loch (Morton) 
on May 10th, 1906 ; but any such occurrences can only be 
attributable to birds which have escaped.] 
[A Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata, Linnaeus), shot on 
the Blackshaw Bank in December, 1886, and preserved by 
WiUiam Hastings, was undoubtedly an "escape." This 
species is an inhabitant of Central and South America, and is 
commonly kept in captivity.] 
THE COMMON SHELD-DUCK. 
Tadorna cornuta (S. G. Gmelin). 
Localnames— Sheildrake; Stockannet ; Stockgander ; 
SCALEDUCK. 
A common resident on our coast. 
In autumn Sheld-Ducks gather together into flocks and 
our locally-bred birds emigrate south, their places bemg 
taken by others from further west and north. But, in 
some seasons, as in 1908-1909, the Sheld-Duck is compara- 
tively scarce from November to January. The wmter- 
migration of this species from the Contment to the east 
coast of Great Britain is not appreciably felt l^^re. In very 
severe winters they sometimes occur inland, and Mr. lom 
* Dumfries Courier, December 8th, 1829. 
