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NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF LINLITHGOW LOCH. 

 By the Ebv. J. M. McWilliam. 



Linlithgow Loch lies about three miles south of the Forth, 

 and about sixteen miles from Loch Leven, the breeding haunt of 

 so many species of ducks. Being Crown property, it has the rare 

 advantage of being a bird " sanctuary." 



During nearly three years, from June, 1911, till December, 

 1913, I had constant opportunities of watching the birds that 

 take advantage of its protection. I had previously been able to 

 form some acquaintance, during the nesting season, with the 

 birds of Loch Leven, where the Pintail and Wigeon, and, it is 

 reported, the Gadwall breed ; and as Linlithgow Loch is not very 

 far from Loch Leven, I had hoped that I should find there some 

 of the rarer ducks that nest regularly on the latter lake. I may 

 say at once that the two lakes are more remarkable for the con- 

 trast than for the resemblance of their bird-population, though 

 they are perhaps equally interesting ; but I shall refer to this 

 contrast later. 



Linlithgow Loch is almost a perfect example of what complete 

 protection can do for birds, under conditions in some respects 

 disadvantageous. The lake is only about a mile in length, and 

 a very few hundred yards in breadth. For almost its whole 

 length it lies within a hundred yards or so of a town with a 

 population of four thousand. There is a public park stretching 

 to the edge of the water, and boats constantly out on the lake. 

 And yet, in spite of these disadvantages, ducks of at least eight 

 species can be seen there throughout a great part of the year. 

 Unfortunately, too, there are only a couple of very small islands, 

 and practically no available breeding ground of any kind. If it 

 had been more fortunate in this respect it could hardly have 

 escaped being a second Loch Leven as regards its breeding ducks ; 

 but, as it is, hardly any ducks nest here. It is only after the 



