9 
COMMON SUELO-OUCK. 
this Duck is known in Norfolk, says that it is presumably a contraction of burrow-gander; but it appears to 
me just as probable that it is derived from its German name ‘ Bergente,’ by which this bird is well known all 
along the German coasts.” 
In the summer of 1868 I was collecting in Ross-shire and Sutherland, and while staying at Dingwall, and 
constantly travelling by rail up and down the line that followed the course of the Dornoch Eirth, I noticed that 
numbers of Sheld-Ducks frequented the waters of the salt-water firths and nested in the sand-banks extending 
along several parts of the coast. In June and July the young are following the old birds on the firths, and at 
my first attempt to secure specimens in this state I had a narrow escape from what might have proved a 
very unpleasant mishap. The following extract from my notes refers to the subject : — 
“June 20. Math three men I started by an early train from Lairg to Edderton, to go to the Meikle Perry, 
to make an attempt to secure a brood of Sheld-Ducks that had been seen on the sands near the course we 
followed while passing up and down the line. On reaching the station and proceeding to the banks where a 
view could be obtained, we soon detected the whole family on the sandy flats near the shore and anticipated it 
would be easy to run them down. This, however, was soon discovered to be a mistaken idea, as the tiny mites 
were able to scamper and flutter over the ground nearly twice as fast as their pursuers, and I could only get 
near enough to stop one with a charge of shot, when the remainder of the brood had disappeared from sight. 
As the tide rose, the juveniles were observed out in Eddeidon Bay with the ducks, and after blowing out the 
india-rubber boat which had been brought with us I started in pursuit of them. The duck and a couple of 
young ones were soon shot, and I next made an attempt to follow the rest of the brood, when it was discovered 
that the blade of one of the oars had become detached and slipped off, leaving my craft to the mercy of the 
wind and tide*. Luckily the former proved most pow'erful, and my light and buoyant eraft was soon forced 
over the ebb by the strong breeze, and I reached shallow water near Ardmore Point on the west side of Edderton 
Bay. Jumping overboard at the first chance, I dragged the boat ashore by the painter, and was none the worse 
for the mishap. The men were much put out on discovering that they were unable to procure any boats at the 
Meikle Perry to come to my assistance ; but they started off at once for the opposite side of the bay, a distance 
of about a couple of miles, when they ascertained that the wind springing up would carry my boat towards the 
shore in that quarter. Ilad the accident, however, happened an hour or two later, when the tide was running 
strongly out of the Pirth, I might have been swept out to sea without attracting attention on either side of the 
water, unless the men had been able to give information at the fishing-stations.” Por the future I never 
ventured afloat in the india-rubber boat without stronger oars ; these were made of ash, in one piece, and the 
remaining one of the old pair was fitted with a bolt run through the two parts and a nut screwed on the end, to 
act as a reserve in case of an accident. 
On visiting the shores of Edderton Bay and making our way to the Meikle Perry point a few days later, 
after a cold breeze had been blowing, we found throe downy youngsters of this species lying on the shore at 
high-water mark, where the refuse cast up by the tide was collcoted. The helpless little mites were perfectly 
fresh and had probably only been washed up a few hours before ; these doubtless belonged to the same brood 
as those that had perished from the effects of the cold after being deprived of the care and warmth aflPorded by 
the old duck that had been shot. 
Durinsr a residence of three or four vears in East Lothian, I discovered that Sheld-Ducks were very 
numerous about the Gullane Links in the breeding-season, these Avide-spreading sandy flats sloping down to the 
shores of the Pirth of Porth affording them ample accommodation for nesting-purposes. At times I also 
observed them on the AA'aters of the Pirth for many miles both east and Avest. 
After a long continuation of severe AA^eather in AAinter, birds of this species are frequently seen in the 
* The oars were made in two parts, for convenience in packing, one fitting into a circle of tin on the other, and held together by a pin that 
was exceedingly liable to fall out. 
