222 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



meeting with the Spotted Redshank. The wariness which 

 it often, though not invariably, exhibits, may partly account 

 for our imperfect knowledge of the visits which it pays to 

 the British Isles. 



TUFTED DUCK IN SOLWAY. 

 By ROBERT SERVICE. 



IT is just a little more than ten years ago since I found the 

 Tufted Duck breeding in this district for the first time. 

 Particulars of the event were given in the " Zoologist " for 

 1887, p. 342. Since that period the species has spread 

 throughout our area till every suitable loch, I think, has now 

 at least a pair or two on or near its precincts. 



Loch Kindar, which lies snugly under the eastern slopes 

 of Criffel, has been one of the last localities to be taken up. 

 Now, however, the Tufted Duck has found out the attractions 

 of this famous trout loch. There are no pike, and con- 

 sequently the greatest source of destruction to the young 

 ducklings will be absent. Early in June, Mr. Willie 

 Thomson, who looks after the angling interests of Loch 

 Kindar, sent me word that there were some strange ducks 

 on the loch he wished me to see. Getting there on the 

 evening of loth June, we were soon out in one of the boats, 

 steering for the ancient crannoge which, in its little round 

 mass of greenery marks a picturesque portion of the loch. 

 Like most such remains of prehistoric times, this crannoge is 

 made of large stones resting on piles. The Kindar crannoge 

 has a broad rim of stones above water. From the high- water 

 line it bears an exceedingly dense and most luxuriant mass 

 of brambles, which are laced and interlaced in an in- 

 extricable tangle almost impenetrable to hand or foot. 

 The whole structure is not above 20 to 25 feet across. 

 The pair of stranger ducks had been seen in proximity to 

 this islet, and we concluded they must be nesting thereon. 

 Landing upon it, we proceeded to search as well as we 

 could by peering down into the dense mass of brambles 

 wherever they \vere a little thinner than usual. In a minute 

 out scuttled a duck from a rabbit-hole-like passage in the 



