194 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



handed over to the hen-wife, who fed them with the poultry, 

 and they soon became very tame. After a short sojourn 

 at Abercairney they were transferred to Blair Drummond 

 and placed on a small loch near the house, where they 

 nested on an island and produced a brood in the first spring 

 after their change of quarters. They steadily increased, and 

 at the end of six years they formed a flock of thirty birds. 

 No particular record has been kept of their numbers, which 

 varied according to circumstances. Some were doubtless shot 

 in the neighbourhood ; some of the very young were taken by 

 rooks and rats, etc. ; and many eggs were unfertile. After 

 reaching a maximum of between forty-five and fifty birds, 

 they have since decreased. 



The Blair Drummond loch and its vicinity is still the 

 headquarters of the flock. After breaking up into pairs in the 

 spring they scatter and nest on the island, on the shore 

 of the loch, in the shrubberies near the house, and on neigh- 

 bouring mosses ; and when the young are strong on the wing 

 the various broods congregate. By the beginning of July 

 the numbers contained in the flock for the year may be 

 estimated. 



During incubation the gander is very fierce when guarding 

 the nest, and shows fight when an intruder approaches too 

 near. One of the keepers on one occasion received a severe 

 blow on the leg from the bird's wing. When the young 

 are hatched out, he still takes a prominent part till they are 

 able to fly. 



During the summer and early autumn the geese feed 

 chiefly in the grass parks round their sanctuary, gradually 

 extending their flights as the season advances. Being ex- 

 ceedingly fond of grain, they sometimes travel long distances 

 to a good stubble-field. 



Their time of feeding, as in their natural state, is in the 

 daytime, but in the autumn it is regulated by harvesting 

 operations, and as generally they cannot begin to feed till 

 the evening is far advanced, they continue their repast late 

 into the night. 



They do not always fly together in one flock, but some- 

 times break up into smaller parties. They fly round and 

 round very warily for some time before settling, and then 



