NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 119 



The average number of eggs is live or less, though I have found 

 six in the same nest. Young birds are easily reared from the eggs, 

 but I believe that these never interbreed with the tame or 

 domestic Geese, along with which they will feed in the same yard, 

 though almost invariably keeping at a little distance from them. 

 If they were more strictly confined along with the domestic birds, 

 possibly they might interbreed ; indeed, an instance did occur in 

 1849, in the Zoological Gardens in London, as related, if I 

 remember correctly, by Darwin. 



These semi-domesticated birds occasionally take short flights to 

 the nearest loch, but never go far from the farm-yard ; and, more 

 curious still, do not seem to be influenced by any migratory 

 impulse, except that they answer the calls of wild birds passing 

 high overhead. Their movements on land are dignified, yet 

 graceful, showing a vast contrast to the clumsy waddle of the 

 domestic birds. I have eggs laid by these half-wild geese ; the 

 texture of the shell being finer and thinner, probably owing to the 

 nature of their food. They are also smaller in size, though this 

 may probably be exceptional. 



COMMON SHIELDEAKE. 



T ADORN A VULPANSER, Fleming. 



Common in certain suitable localities in the east and north, but 

 absent, so far as I know, in the west. The sandy shore of Handa 

 next the mainland should afford good breeding ground, riddled as 

 it is with innumerable rabbit-burrows, but I have never observed 

 the species there. 



COMMON WILD DUCK. 



ANAS BOSCH AS, Linnaeus. 



Very abundant, and found breeding both on the shores and on the- 

 islands of nearly all the numerous lochs of Assynt, salt as well as fresh 

 water, but more rarely in the district of Stoir and Aardvaar, west 

 and north of Quinaig. Indeed, that tract of country, though 

 dotted with innumerable lochs, is singularly devoid of bird-life. 



WIDGEON. 



ANAS PENELOPE, Linnaeus. 



This species is distributed over the central and northern portions 



