THE BIRDS OF STRATHBEQ. 241 



both occurred; as also the Brent Goose, (A. Brenta.) This last is, I believe, 

 the most abundant of all this genus which visit the Loch, and is in some 

 seasons extremely numerous. They are also frequently to be met with in 

 summer, individually, or in small parties. In the month of June last year, 

 I pursued a (lock, composed of about thirty birds, about the Loch for the 

 greater part of a day in the hopes of getting a shot, but in this I was 

 most miserably disappointed from their extraordinary shyness; a trait 

 in their character which I have never as yet observed in them during 

 winter. 



The Canadian Goose, {A. Canadensis.) — A bird resembling this species, but 

 which was at first supposed to be a young Swan, was obtained on that part 

 of the Loch which lies nearest to Rattery, during the winter of 1819. When 

 first observed, it was literally surrounded and beset by a host of other birds, 

 chiefly Gulls, which were teasing and tormenting it, by pecking and screaming 

 at him in a most fearful manner; the poor Canadian all the time exhibiting 

 the most comical gestures. 



The Rev. A. Boyd, of Crimand, a gentleman well known to several naturalists, 

 and one whose hospitable manse is always open to me as a home when I 

 go a rambling after Nature in that direction, and to whom I intend hereafter 

 to refer, wrote me last winter that a strange sort of Wild Goose had taken 

 up its abode in his pond. From the minute and pointed description which 

 he gave of the bird, I was enabled at once to return him word that it could 

 be nothing else but a specimen of that rare species, the Egyptian Goose 

 (/I. Eyyptiacus,) which afterwards proved to be the case, as will be seen. The 

 pond, or dam lying in an exposed situation, and it being Mr. Boyd's wish 

 that the stranger should not be destroyed, but rather preserved alive, if possible, 

 he requested the people all round not to shoot, or molest it in any way. 

 This was of course complied with, from the fact that the Reverend gentleman 

 is, from his amiable qualities, a universal favourite in the district, and indeed 

 beloved by all who have the pleasure and honour of his acquaintance. The bird 

 continued to frequent the pond for about two months, where Mr. B. caused 

 food to be laid down for it every day, and it became a little more tame. 

 It only abode on the dam, however, during the day-time. As regularly as 

 evening came it took its departure, but as invariably as morning dawned it 

 re-appeared. Where it went to during these nightly peregrinations, was never 

 rightly ascertained, but it is conjectured that the Loch had been the place 

 of resort, which doubtless it had. On the day however preceding the great 

 snow-storm, which commenced in January last, and which was so severely 

 felt by man and beast, Goosy was observed to take his departure considerably 

 earlier than usual; and in doing so, bade a lasting farewell to the kind folks 

 of Crimand, for, like the little Frenchman, he has never been seen or heard 

 of more. Mr. Boyd being in Liverpool some time after, and having visited a 

 poulterer's yard, observed what he supposed at first to be his old friend, the 

 Goose, or at least he was sure if it was not that, it was one of the same 



