BIRDS. 
18!) 
Observed on the little lochs near Dunnet Head, where 
they are pretty safe from molestation, owing to the exposed 
nature of the country around. 
Chaulelasmus strepera {L.). Gadwall. 
[In Dr. Sinclair's collection.] 
Spatula clypeata {L.). Shoveller. 
As regards this duck Sheriff Mackenzie informs us : " Nor 
have we seen the shoveller duck in the Dornoch Firth, 
though we have both (referring to Mr. Jennins, who punts 
in that locality) shot young birds in the neighbourhood in 
the month of August. It was one of these latter that I got 
Macleay to preserve for me. This year I am to have a try 
for the eggs, for J know the loch where they breed " {in 
lit, March 24, 1884). Mr. Booth, in his Eough Notes, says : 
" A few pairs and small flocks on shallow waters near Lairg, 
and an adult male found dead near the base of Ben Armine 
(op. cit, Part ix.). 
[In Dr. Sinclair's collection, but is not mentioned by either 
Mr. Osborne or Mr. Eeid.] 
Querquedula crecca {L.). Teal, 
Common, and resident ; like the widgeon, retires to the coast 
and estuaries almost entirely in the winter. 
Tolerably abundant in the west, returning year after 
year to the same place to breed. 
Not so abundant as the wild- duck, but still common and 
resident, its favourite haunts in this county being the small 
sheets of water on the hills called " dhulochans " (0. MSS., 
1868). 
In 1885 we did not see any living teal, but we met with 
it commonly in collections. 
