600 ANSER SEGETUM. 



the south of Scotland all the winter, these birds are much 

 more numerous there in spring ; and great numbers are 

 brought to the markets in March and April, when they are 

 on their way northward. 



Vast numbers frequent the Montrose Basin in winter, 

 betaking themselves to the water by day, and feeding in the 

 fields at night. All over the extended plain country stretch- 

 ing from the Tay to Inverness flocks are to be met with here 

 and there from October to April, but in much greater 

 number at the periods of the autumnal and vernal migra- 

 tions. In the large open fields they there feed mostly by 

 day, at night betaking themselves to marshy places or to 

 estuaries. In the Bay of Findhorn multitudes are seen 

 coming from the surrounding country to repose at night. 

 Early in the morning they betake themselves to the fields, 

 where they feed until evening if not disturbed. It thus 

 appears that their habits vary in different circumstances, at 

 least as to the times of repose and feeding. They are very 

 cautious in alighting, and fly over and around the intended 

 place several times, until, observing nothing suspicious, they 

 come down irregularly, usually run together, stand for some 

 time with their necks erected, and then disperse or proceed 

 in a line, an individual always acting as sentinel or observer, 

 and giving instant warning of danger, instantly responded 

 to by all the members of the flock, which come running up 

 to him, and after satisfying themselves as to the cause of 

 alarm, fly off or resume their previous occupation. 



As this species has been confounded with the next, I 

 think little more can be said respecting its habits; for I 

 must refrain from following the example of those who, with- 

 out having seen a Goose's nest, or alluding to any one who 

 has, describe both it and the eggs as minutely as those of a 

 Sparrow or Chaffinch. 



Mr. Selby, however, has, in his account of the quadrupeds 

 and birds observed by him in Sutherland in the summer of 

 1834, furnished some very acceptable information on this 

 subject : — " We were agreeably surprised to find that the 

 Bean-Goose annually breeds upon several of the Sutherland 

 lakes. The first intimation we received of this interesting 



