152 BRITAIN'S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 



down and disappears, while he remains on guard at the 

 door — for a Httle while.' 



THE GRAY LAG GOOSE 



(Anser cinereus). 



Large flocks of Gray Geese are common in many parts of 

 the British Isles in winter, and may often be seen in the 

 course of their migration. The majority belong to one or 

 other of two very similar species, the Bean Goose and the 

 Pink-footed Goose. The White-fronted and Gray Lag 

 Goose are also represented. The last named is the only one 

 that remains to breed, and that to a much smaller extent 

 than formerly. It is still found in the north of Scotland, 

 chiefly in the Outer Hebrides. The nest is made of 

 heather and the like, and do\vn is added after the eggs 

 are laid. The eggs are yellowish white in colour, and 

 half-a-dozen or more in number. 



[Several species of Geese that have been introduced are 

 known to occm*, or even to breed as ' escapes.' In this con- 

 nection the Canada Goose may be particularly mentioned. 

 It belongs to the group of ' Black Geese,' and is a close 

 ally of the Barnacle Goose, which, with its cousin the Brent 

 Goose, is fairly common on parts of our coast-line in winter. 

 The Barnacle Goose derives its name from the ancient 

 superstition that it was hatched from a barnacle.] 



THE WHOOPER SWAN 



(Cygnus musicus). 



Most of the genuine Wild Swans seen in the British Isles 

 in winter belong to this species, which claims "oiu- attention 

 because it used to nest in the Orkneys till about a hundred 



