i9i4 _I 9 I 5-] Outer Hebrides and in Midlothian. 177 



stalked round behind the tall reeds at the west end, in the 

 hope of getting within shot. On peering through the reeds 

 I observed they were within easy distance of the shore, but 

 unfortunately opposite the public park, where shooting is 

 strictly prohibited. Getting within seventy or eighty yards 

 of them, I looked past a ledge of rock and watched their 

 movements with great interest. They were all bottom feeders, 

 and were busily engaged, coming up occasionally fur air. My 

 attention was riveted on the adult golden-eye drake, and, 

 observing that he stayed down sufficient time to enable me to 

 cover the ground that intervened, I made up my mind to secure 

 him, as he appeared to be a splendid specimen. In order to 

 accomplish this, I must necessarily trespass on Government 

 ground ; and as the park-keeper's house was close by, I was 

 not exactly sure of the consequences. Knowing, however, 

 that I could shoot over the loch from bank to bank, I 

 resolved on running in the water close to the edge, and thus 

 avoiding breaking the law by shooting in the King's Park. 

 Determined to act, I waited till the drake appeared above the 

 water and again dived. Jumping to my feet, I quickly ran 

 to a large stone opposite where he had disappeared. My 

 sudden appearance naturally startled all the birds, causing the 

 ducks at once to fly off; and the coots, half-flying, half- 

 running on the water, speedily got out of shot. Even the 

 swans appeared to wonder what was up, as I ran floundering 

 on among the stones, causing the water to splash over my 

 head, till I arrived at the landmark referred to. By this time 

 not a bird was within range, but in a few seconds the drake 

 appeared within thirty yards, and getting sight of me, at once 

 took wing, when it immediately dropped to shot. The 

 retriever, swimming in, very soon secured it ; and not feeling 

 exactly comfortable within four feet of the shore, I hurried 

 back to my own legitimate territory. Before I reached it the 

 park-keeper arrived upon the scene, inquiring why I had 

 trespassed on the park. I assured him I had not set foot on 

 it ; but not caring to argue the matter with him, I lost no 

 time in moving off, proud of the splendid specimen I had 

 secured. 



The pochard is a beautiful bird. About March 10 a large 

 number were on Duddingston Loch. Thev are winter visitors, 



