INCREASE OF JACKDAWS 123 



is another whose increasing numbers would be 

 more welcome, were his attentions to the buds 

 of fruit-trees only a little more discriminating. 



The fulmar is associated in the minds of most 

 of us with the Island of St. Kilda, where they 

 form an important part of the food supply of 

 the inhabitants. Of late years, however, new 

 colonies have been found established on Handa 

 and the mainland, and there is evidence that in 

 the old-established nursery at St. Kilda all 

 available nesting places are fully occupied. It 

 seems reasonable to conclude that some, at least, 

 of the new colonies have been peopled by the 

 pressure from this congested centre. 



Very notable has been the rapid increase and 

 dispersal of certain ducks as resident and breed- 

 ing species, e.g. the tufted duck, shoveller, pin- 

 tail and pochard. The most noticeable case is, 

 perhaps, that of the tufted duck, the increase of 

 which is certainly very striking. Loch Leven 

 seems to have been the first centre where it 

 established itself, and now it is very common in 

 suitable localities in eastern and central Scotland. 

 Along with the ducks may be mentioned the 

 great crested grebe, formerly a rare visitor, but 

 of late years nesting regularly and in increasing 

 numbers with us. 



Turning now to the second category men- 



