THE GREYLAGS OF BLAIR DRUMMOND 195 



pitch right out in the middle of a field, and, with sentries 

 posted, a near approach to them is impossible. 



They are sometimes seen feeding in the same field with 

 wild birds, with which, however, they do not associate, and 

 although they answer the calls of the wild geese which pass 

 over in great numbers between the estuary of the Forth and 

 Cardross Moss in the winter time, they do not join them. 



In severe frosts, when the ground is hard and their 

 water frozen, they disappear, and remain away for a long 

 time, probably frequenting tidal waters. In the exceptionally 

 hard winter of 1894-95 they were absent from the middle 

 of December till the middle of March. They went away in 

 two flocks of sixteen and twelve birds respectively, and 

 returned together on the same day without one of their 

 number missing. 



With regard to the Blair Drummond Greylags not 

 joining the wild birds, Mr. Macdonald of Balranald, North 

 Uist, with whom I have been in correspondence, has a 

 different experience. He has had a flock of semi-domesti- 

 cated geese for some years, which cross with his tame ones. 

 He tells me that unless they are pinioned there is a great 

 risk of losing them during the winter and spring, as such 

 large flocks of wild geese frequent the loch near his house 

 where the tame ones feed, and the former often draw away 

 some of the latter which fly best as a rule the older birds 

 remain and hatch out on the moss away from the tame 

 birds. 



Mr. Macdonald once pointed out to me a pair of Swans ' 

 which he has had for over thirty years. They have a brood 

 every spring, and unless the cygnets are pinioned they join 

 the wild swans, and only come back at certain times. 



I was unable to obtain any information as to the success- 

 ful hatching out of any eggs laid outside the Blair Drummond 

 domains till this year, when news was received that a pair 

 of wild geese had nested at Ardoch near Braco, and that a 

 young bird had been secured and was in captivity. Having 

 been asked to go there and investigate the affair, I was able 

 to clear up what was a mystery to those who were unaware 

 of the existence of the Blair Drummond birds. The distance 

 between the two places is ten miles as the crow or goose 



