CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 1 69 



remains with us to breed. Formerly it was much 

 more generally distributed than it is in the present 

 day, being found in Lincolnshire, below the 

 H umber, and on our east coast ; whereas now it 

 is principally confined — so far as breeding localities 

 are concerned — to the north-west counties of Scot- 

 land and the Outer Hebrides, it being most 

 abundant in the latter. From this Goose our 

 domestic race is supposed to have sprung. Accord- 

 ing to Professor Skeat, the trivial name indicates 

 that it is the Grey Goose which in former days 

 " laofofed " behind to breed in our fens when its 

 congfeners had betaken themselves to more north- 

 erly regions (H.S.). 



The nest is generally made in coarse grass and 

 heather, often on an island in a Scotch loch ; no 

 lininof is used until after the gq-o-s are laid, then 

 the female surrounds them with down plucked from 

 her breast. They are usually five to six in number. 

 In regard to the nesting-habit of this species, Mr. 

 W. H. Hudson says : " During incubation the 

 gander keeps guard over his mate and afterwards 

 assists her in rearing her young. These are led 

 back to the nest by the goose and sleep under her 

 wing." 



The Greylag feeds principally on grass and other 

 vegetable matter, and in the time of the crops 

 consumes an immense amount of orain, cominor 

 down in large flocks in the day-time — if undis- 

 turbed. I have seen them in great numbers in 

 South Uist. The specimen in the case was- 



M 



