Sir James Fergusson at once forwarded this interesting letter to R. W. Cochran-Patrick, Esq., LL.D., F.S.A., secretary to the Ayrshire and Wigtownshire Archæological Association, with a note requesting him to visit and examine the locality here referred to at his convenience. From letters now before me I find that this preliminary examination of the crannog took place on the 10th of the following November, the result of which was shortly afterwards communicated to me just at the same time that I had received for final revision the proof-sheets of the first article on the Ayrshire crannogs, and so I took the opportunity of recording the discovery by appending a foot-note embracing Mr. Cochran-Patrick's observations. See page 23 of the second volume of the collections of the Ayrshire and Wigtownshire Archæological Association.[31] The time of the year being unsuitable for making an examination of the crannog, owing to the wetness of the locality, it was agreed to postpone further explorations till the following summer. Meantime the appointment of Sir James Fergusson as Governor of Bombay, and the subsequent return of Mr. Cochran-Patrick as M.P. for North Ayrshire, entirely precluded both these gentlemen from giving their personal attention to the proposed investigations, in which they were so highly interested; and hence the carrying out of them, when a favourable opportunity should occur, was intrusted to me. _Investigations._--It was not till the 28th June 1880 that the weather permitted the work of excavating the mound to be begun, which, however, was then continued regularly during the greater part of the month of July, under the most favourable circumstances. A long course of dry weather made the ground exceptionally suitable for digging; the workmen, with the intelligent forester, Mr. Hopson, at their head, were skilful and thoroughly interested in the investigations; and as to the general management, not only had we the benefit of the able and obliging assistance of Mr. Baxter, factor on the Kilkerran estate, but also the occasional presence and advice of several members of the Council of this Society, among whom were R. W. Cochran-Patrick, Esq., M.P., Sir W. J. M. Cuninghame, Bart., of Corsehill, Colonel Hunter-Weston of Hunterston, J. H. Stoddart, Esq., _Glasgow Herald_, etc. I have specially to mention Dr. Macdonald, rector of the Ayr Academy, who for several days took the entire supervision of the works and finds. It will be thus seen that the materials of this report are the joint contributions of various hands and various minds, so that the individuality which the writing of it confers upon me must be largely discounted.