276 The Upper Elf Loch, Braids. [Sess. 



was attacked, and would have been killed had it not been 

 rescued. In another instance two hundred out of five hun- 

 dred choice sheep were destroyed. 



This is a remarkable change of habits under altered condi- 

 tions — for of course it has only come about since sheep were 

 introduced into the districts the kea inhabits, as there were 

 no indigenous animals for it to prey upon. 



X.—THE UPPER ELF LOCH, BRALDS. 



[First Paper.] 



By Messrs THOMAS SCOTT, F.L.S., and JOHN LINDSAY. 



{Read April 28, 1897.) 



On 21st March of last year (1896) one of the writers of this 

 paper (Mr T. Scott) paid a visit to a small sheet of water on 

 the south side of the Braid Hills for the purpose of learning 

 what forms of the Entomostraca were to be found there. It 

 was then observed that this little loch contained Volvox glob- 

 ator in abundance, the oospores at that early date, owing to 

 the mild weather, having germinated and risen to the surface. 

 This was a most interesting discovery, seeing this motile alga, 

 so much prized by microscopists for its graceful form and 

 curious life-history, had only once been previously recorded 

 for the Edinburgh district. As it was believed that this sheet 

 of water would yield many other forms of life specially inter- 

 esting to the microscopist, the present joint investigations were 

 determined on ; and the division of labour in regard to these 

 may here be noted. The dredgings were either made by Mr 

 Scott or under his directions ; and, while taking a general 

 supervision of the material collected, Mr Scott devoted his 

 attention more particularly to the groups of the Entomostraca 

 and the Mollusca, the reports on these being drawn up by him. 

 To the other member fell the duty of noting such groups as 

 the various kinds of Algte, the Infusoria, the Eotifera, &c. As 

 the working up of these groups required both time and labour, 



