178 Grey-lag Goose 



stronghold, but even here they are curiously local. I believe I am 

 right in saying that their nesting-grounds are confined to the Islands 

 of S. and N. Uist, and that they do not breed in Barra, Benbecula, 

 Harris or the Lewis. I could not obtain any reliable information 

 of their breeding in Skye or any of the inner Hebrides, and I believe 

 they are only winter visitors to Jura and Islay. The two Uists 

 certainly accommodate a very large percentage of the total number of 

 Grey-lags that breed in the United Kingdom. S. Uist is the more 

 favoured of the two. Last year, in which the numbers of nesting 

 pairs were above the average, the keeper estimated there were about 

 180 nests. The estimated numbers in N. Uist I could not get, but 

 they are admittedly much fewer than in S. Uist, possibly there 

 would be 250 nests in the two islands together. Fortunately both 

 proprietors, Lady Gordon Cathcart and Sir Arthur Orde, take great 

 interest in the preservation of birds, especially those rarer birds like 

 the Red-necked Phalarope, which collectors and dealers would have 

 exterminated long ago but for their watchfulness. No doubt, the 

 Grey-lags benefit from the same cause, particularly in the nesting- 

 time. 



Their ultimate survival as breeders, however, it seems to me 

 would rest on rather more secure foundation, if those who drew up 

 the Protection Order for the various counties, were endowed with a 

 little more sense. Formerly, Parliament was responsible for drafting 

 our game-laws and wild birds Protection Acts. It cannot be said 

 that their legislative efforts were particularly happy in every case. 

 I would instance the legal seasons for Black-game shooting in Scot- 

 land — August 20th to December loth. Young Black-game, as 

 everyone knows, are scarcely fledged in August, and the old birds 

 are still in full moult. On the other hand, from December loth to 

 February ist Black-cocks are strong and powerful fliers, affording 

 magnificent sport, and being polygamous birds, it is very desirable 

 to shoot off the excess of old males, as is done with Pheasants. 

 Landowners, sportsmen, naturalists and game-keepers alike recognise 

 these facts, and have long been agitating for an alteration in the 

 close time to the period from October ist to February ist, bringing 

 the bird in line with the Pheasant. This alteration would be against 

 no one's interest that I know of. I cannot beheve that the most 

 advanced Radical sees any advantage in massacring half-grown 

 birds in August, or in sparing the old Black-cocks in the last half of 

 December and throughout January. Many efforts have been made 

 by private members to get this entirely non-contentious measure 

 passed through the House, all without success, and the close time 

 will probably remain unaltered until the Black-game has become 

 extinct. 



The year 1888 was remarkable for an extraordinary invasion 

 of Europe by the Sand-grouse, of which Great Britain had its full 

 share. Strenuous efforts were made by naturalists and landowners 

 to afford these strange visitors efficient protection. Parhament 



