BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 271 
tenancy (1896-1898) of Dalswinton (Kirkmahoe) he had 
seen Shovelers on the loch on one or more occasions, 
and he thinks that he once shot one. In March, 1902, 
two males remained on Morton Loch for a fortnight. 
An adult female was shot near Gretna on February 
26th, 1903*; but possibly this specimen may have been 
obtained in Cumberland and not within the Hmits of 
our county. Mr. Myles Quinn writes me that he shot 
two young birds (male and female) on North Kirkblain 
meadow (Caerlaverock) about the last week of August, 
1907 ; and Mr. T. Ranken informs me that he shot a 
female Shoveler at Dalswinton Loch in November, 1907, 
and saw another which was not obtained. Mr. Norman 
Maclachlan saw a female flying down the River Nith 
near Carnsalloch on December 30th, 1907. The Rev. 
W. McDowall states (in litt.) that he once saw a bird of this 
species in winter on Duncow Loch (Kirkmahoe) and Mr. 
George Underwood tells me that Shovelers are occasionally 
seen on the lochs at Lochmaben in winter. A Shoveler 
was shot near Ruthwell in October, 1908, by Mr. Sholto 
Douglas. A male was seen on Dalswinton Loch on April 
4th, 1909, but no female or nest was discovered, and it 
disappeared four days later. 
Mr. P. Coleman assures me that he found a Shoveler's 
nest by the River Cairn on Coatstown Farm (Glencairn) 
in the spring of 1899 or 1900. Having spent the earlier 
part of his hfe in Ireland in a locahty where I know this 
species breeds, I consider his statement may be accepted. 
Sir Richard Graham, of Netherby (Cumberland), writes me 
in 1908 : " Since 1905 I have reared about twenty Shovelers 
each year. I have now got Shovelers to breed here full- 
winged " ; and it is to be hoped that, as a natural 
consequence of this success, their offspring will extend the 
breeding-range of the species. 
It will have been observed that the majority of the above 
records hail from Lower Nithsdale, and many of them refer 
* TuUie House Museum Registers. 
