BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 263 
Crosbie tells me he remembers seeing Sheld-Duck on the 
lochs at Dabton and Kirkbog in 1878-1879. Mr. Hugh 
Mackay informs me that they did not suffer during the frost 
of 1894-1895. He adds :—" Those brought me to stuff 
were all in good condition, and contained minute shells, 
blunt bubble shell {Cylichna ohtusa), small cockle (Cardium 
edule), porcelain tellina (Tellina tenuis), and the laver spire 
(Rissoa ulvce)." 
Under the County Council " order " of 1908 {see Introduc- 
tion) the Sheld-Duck was protected for the three following 
years throughout the whole year, in the counties of 
Dumfries, Kirkcudbright and Wigtown, a step taken 
to preserve this species from the ruthless slaughter by 
holiday trippers. As an article of food the Sheld-Duck 
is not generally considered as of any value, and very little 
hardship can be caused to those engaged in the wild-fowling 
trade by the protection of this species, which, it is satis- 
factory to record, is increasing annually. 
In early spring Sheld-Duck are seen in pairs about their 
nesting-places. The nest is made in a rabbit-burrow from 
a few feet to four or five yards from the entrance, and though 
usually near the sea-shore, it is sometimes found many miles 
inland, being occasionally made in a covert of furze or 
brambles. Mr. R. Service has remarked that nests are 
now more often found in inland locaHties than formerly* ; 
and Mr. W. Coupland writes me that he has frequently found 
this species nesting near Carnsalloch (Kirkmahoe). Young 
Sheld-Ducks that have been brought out inland are led by 
their parent to the nearest stream, and so down to the 
sea.f H. A. Macpherson has already recorded the attrac- 
tions that the sandy banks of the River Sark possess for 
this species at this season,! and in July, 1908, I had the 
pleasure of seeing a pair at close quarters there. 
Sir William Jardine writes in 1843 of the " Sheildrake " 
as a local bird, and says : " When half -fledged they are 
* Trans. Edin. Field Nat. Soc, 1904-1905, Vol. V., Part III., p. 183. 
t Fauna of Lakeland, 1892, p. 265. 
