268 BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 
of trout food, in the shape of moUusca and crustaceans."* 
Anyone who has reared young MaUard knows how voracious 
these birds are, and should this practice of artificial 
rearing become more general, it is quite possible that 
ere long serious harm may be done to corn-crops. In the 
autumn of 1907, when the " stooks " remained standing out 
so long, I knew of a cornfield near a small loch where 
some two hundred ducks dwelt, which was nightly invaded 
and much damaged by them. 
During 1887 Mr. R. Service notes in his MS. Diary, three 
pecuharly-plumaged birds of this species, as foUows : 
W. Maxwell tells me that a white Mallard was shot at the 
beginning of April on Queensberry. It had often been 
seen during the winter ; bill and legs were normal, but the 
whole plumage purest white, and said to have been extremely 
beautiful. Was plucked, cooked and eaten." " A splendid 
variety of Mallard shewn me by R. McMurdo. It was shot 
on EUisland (Dunscore). Underparts nearly canary yellow, 
feet and legs red, bill reddish yellow, eyes normal and tail 
curled as usual." Variety of a Wild Duck (female) from 
Elshieshields (Lochmaben), primaries, belly, and broad rmg 
round neck pure white, the remainder normal." On 
September 17th, 1897, I myself saw a pure white specimen 
in company with a flock of Mallard on the Far Loch at 
Capenoch ; but nowadays with so many semi-wild duck 
artificially reared in the district, such varieties lose any 
interest they may once have commanded. 
THE GADWALL. Anas strepera, Linnaeus. 
Has occurred twice. 
The Rev. W. McDowall writes me that he saw a GadwaU 
shot by Donald GiUespie, gamekeeper at Dalswinton, in 
* Zoologist, 1888, p. 269. 
