134 NATURAL HISTORY {_Birds. 



the flocks that visit us in October from the northern cHmates, 

 their summer retreats. Part of these continue with us all 

 winter, and the rest go to Caithness and the other northern 

 shires of Scotland ; in April they go off again to the north- 

 ward, except, as I said before, the few which remain here for 

 the summer. 



When the swans go soon away, our country people expect 

 a forward season ; but vvhen they fly south in the spring, fear 

 the worst. 



Like the wild geeese, these birds fly in the fashion of a 

 wedge, making a fine melodious clang, which has perhaps fur- 

 nished one occasion to give a musical voice to this bird. 



Species 2. — The Goose. 



Tame Goose, Common Wild Goose, Wil. Orn. 358, sp. 1, 2. B.aii Syn. Av. 

 136, sp. 3, 4. Anas Anser,A. ferus (3, douiesticus, Ijin. Sys. 197. Brit. Zool. 

 447. Brit. Zool. Illus. tab. 84. 



The Wild Goose is very seldom seen here, pays us no re- 

 gular visits ; I have heard, however, an instance or two of a 

 male joining itself to a flock of tame geese, and continuing 

 Avith them the whole season. 



Tame geese in Orkney are bred in vast quantities ; not so 

 much as the smallest farmer but has his flock of these ; they 

 are part of the rents of the farms, and strictly exacted ; when 



