CHAPTER XIV 



OUR WILD GEESE 



The Gre^'lag Goose is the only wild goose which 

 remains with us all the year round. Numbers of 

 these birds rear their young in the remote parts of 

 Scotland, their nests being large structures composed 

 of the various kinds of herbage to be found in their 

 nesting haunts. The eggs, which are from six to 

 eight in number, are of a creamy white. Although 

 generally a most shy and wary bird, the Greylag 

 becomes bold in the nesting season, quite altering its 

 usual habits. The gander keeps close to his mate 

 all the time she is sitting, ready alike to warn her of 

 coming danger or, if necessary, to fight for her. 



As this bird is a feeder on the green crops, and 

 takes care to feed itself in a close and systematic 

 manner, it is not welcomed as a visitor by the 

 farmers. " A wild-goose chase " is a well-known 

 saying, but .its full meaning is best understood by 

 those who have tried to get at wild geese when they 

 are feeding on the green crops. 



The Grevlaof is recorded as nestino- one hundred 



years ago in the eastern fens of England before 



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