358 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



On 16th April, 1860, a flock of thirty wild swans visited the 

 loch of Strathbeg, in Aberdeenshire. The resident swans (Cygnus 

 olor), although not half so numerous, would not allow them to rest, 

 and ultimately drove them off. Similar notices have reached me 

 from the districts in the east of Scotland, where there are lochs 

 and ponds of sufficient size to attract birds of their habits. In 

 old records I find frequent mention made of wild swans appearing 

 in various districts, counties, and parishes, and alighting chiefly 

 in lakes which are, for the most part, now drained. Thus in 1823, 

 during very rough weather, about twenty pitched upon Kilconquhar 

 Loch, in Fifeshire, a favourite resort of wild fowl, and remained 

 there until the storm abated ;* other flocks of a like extent were 

 seen on Loch Spynie, in Moray shire, and also on some of the 

 Ross-shire and Sutherlandshire lakes; and even so far south as 

 Loch Inch, in Wigtownshire, flocks were seen every winter. About 

 one hundred years ago, according to Mr Low, a few pairs bred in 

 the Loch of Stenness, in Orkney, but even there they were so 

 much disturbed by the country people that their early disap- 

 pearance as summer residents was considered inevitable. The late 

 Dr Patrick Neill a good authority has the following note in 

 his 'Tour in Orkney,' which was published in 1806: "Large 

 flocks of swans annually arrive in Orkney and Shetland in the 

 month of October, and spend the winter about the numerous fresh 

 water lakes in the islands. Early in the spring they take their 

 departure for the peaceful Arctic regions, where they may incubate 

 and rear their young without molestation. Till within these 

 twenty years (as I was told in Orkney) a few pairs regularly 

 remained during the summer in the islets of the great lake of 

 Stenness, and there produced their broods; but, about that time, 

 having been much harassed, this little colony finally abandoned 

 this Orkney-breeding place." Pennant, in his ' Tour in Scotland,' 

 also speaks of great flocks of swans migrating in winter to Loch 

 Spynie (now drained), and mentions having been told of some 

 remaining there to breed. 



* In the ' Witches of Pittenweem,' allusion is made to these birds being in 

 this loch at the drowning of a famous hag, in the following graceless and 

 ungallant record : 



" They took her to Kinniuchar Loch, 

 And threw the limmer in, 

 And a' the swans took to the hills 

 Scared with the unhaely din." 



