196 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



flies, and I may add that in selecting this new nesting- place 

 the stray pair do not lose the title which I have given them, 

 for Ardoch is the property of Colonel Home-Drummond. 



I first saw the captive gosling, which was in the pheasantry, 

 following the keeper about like a dog, and feeding out of his 

 hand. We then visited the loch, which is an ideal place for 

 water-fowl, except for the numbers of pike which infest it. I 

 learnt that about five years ago Grey Geese were observed 

 haunting this loch in the spring time, and that three years 

 ago a pair nested there on an island, and five eggs were laid, 

 all of which were unfertile ; last year again there was a nest 

 on the same spot, and six addled eggs was the result ; this 

 year was more propitious, for out of five eggs laid, two young 

 birds were produced, one of which, above alluded to, was 

 secured, and the other, which we saw on the loch, had hitherto 

 escaped capture. I noticed that it was larger than the 

 captured bird. 



Since this visit in June, I again went to Ardoch in 

 August, and found that the second gosling had been caught 

 and pinioned, and I saw both the young birds swimming 

 about on one of the ponds near the house. The difference 

 in size is most marked, showing either that the superiority 

 of natural over artificial food has told (for the poultry-fed 

 bird is the smaller of the two), or, what is hoped, that the 

 larger bird is a gander his pugnacity towards other fowl 

 rather points to this fact. 



Sir James Bell, who is at present living at Ardoch, is 

 much interested in these birds, and both the young and the 

 old pair, if they return to the loch to nest, are sure to receive 

 every care and protection in their new sanctuary. 



It would be interesting to see the start of a new colony ; 

 but the conditions are different, and the chances are against 

 it. The old stock appears to be exhausted for want of new 

 blood. No young birds are known to have been reared at 

 Blair Drummond this year. One nest only was found ; it con- 

 tained ten eggs, all of which were unfertile ; and, as has been 

 stated, out of sixteen eggs laid in three years at Ardoch 

 only two young birds have been produced. 



The only chance is new blood, which doubtless could be 

 procured from the Hebrides without difficulty, if desired. 



