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REPORTS ON EXCURSIONS. 97 
In the grounds is an artificial loch, nearly half-a-mile in length, 
with two islets. It was formerly a little longer ; but after it had 
become nearly choked up with vegetation, the late Mr. Ker 
caused the western portion to be cleaned out, an embankment 
formed, and the eastern end filled up. On one of the islets a 
pair of swans began about a fortnight or three weeks ago to 
build a nest. Swans have been kept on the loch for a number of 
years, but leave it every season, going down the burn which 
flows from the loch to the Allander, and from thence to the 
Kelvin. The pair referred to have returned for the last two or 
three seasons, but another pair, which two years ago built on the 
_ other islet, nave not come back. At the side of the loch, the 
moss Climacium dendroides, W. & M., was found rather abun- 
dantly in fruit. 
There is also a smaller pond, called the Lady Loch, on the 
burn which forms the mutual boundary of the parishes of New 
Kilpatrick and Baldernock, and now also of the counties of 
Dumbarton and Stirling. Here the kingfisher was observed. A 
pair of otters built here last year, and Mr. Ker tried to pre- 
serve them. They disappeared, however, about the new-year, 
and although he communicated with the farmers and others in 
the neighbourhood asking that the animals might not be killed, 
it has since been ascertained that one of them was shot. 
In addition to the trees mentioned, a sweet chestnut and a 
birch were also measured. An elm, near the eastern extremity 
of the policies and not visited at this time, measured 13 ft. 4} in. 
in girth on 23rd November, 1889. There were formerly many 
fine trees on this estate, but most of them were cut down prior to 
the last change of ownership. The present forester, who con- 
ducted the party to the various points of interest, stated that 
the roots of several large spruces and silver-firs had been dug up 
by him. 
A waik through the gardens and greenhouses completed the 
record for Dougalston, from whence the party proceeded to the 
churchyard of Baldernock, or “the town on the stream at the 
knoll,” as the Gaelic has been translated. The church, which was 
erected in 1795, is an old-fashioned building with two outside 
stairs. One of the tombstones, with skull, hour-glass, and cross- 
bones, bears date 1688. Here are two fine elms, one measuring 
