In this day and age , the march of science must not be halted — even natural science. So Sorely Matheson, young medico of the Highland Parish of Ardrinish in Kintyre discovered to his cost. The trouble was, Sorely had a taste for roast duck, especially wild duck, and was moreover a born supporter of the liberties of the subject.
As a complication in this combustible situation, were the tinker brothers, Alister Beg and Tosh Macphail, of no fixed abode but entirely fixed pre-dilections. In consequence, Ardrinish leapt into the news, headline news, and both ornithology and local initative rose triumphantly to the occasion.
The clash was heard as far south as Ayr and London, and Judy Dalrymple, the Press, the Democracy, all took a hand, in as hilarious a storm as ever ruffled the far from tranquil waters of the Hebridean Sea.