120 FIELD NOTES FOR THE YE AY. 



of May. The wild geese decrease in number every year ; the 

 grey lag goose is f a very rare visitor to the oat-fields here, 

 although so many breed in Sutherlandshire. 



The woodcocks are more numerous at this time of year in 

 the larger woods than during any part of the winter : they 

 pair early, and have probably before this time taken up their 

 breeding quarters. Those which breed abroad do not leave 

 this country till just before their time of laying. I am much 

 inclined to think that most birds which migrate from us in 

 the spring pair some time before they take their departure. 



CHAPTEK XV. 



APRIL. 



Field Mice Brent Geese Arrival of Migratory ]>irds Instinct of Crows in 

 Feeding Instinct of Thrushes Disappointments in Shooting Wild 

 Geese Death of White-fronted Geese -Shetland Pony Heronry- 

 Anecdote of Roebuck Wild Duck's Nest. 



THE wild geese which came a few days ago have now entirely 

 disappeared, either in consequence of finding no oats sown, 

 or from some impending change of weather on the higher 

 grounds. 



The field-mice on the approach of cold and wet shut up 

 the mouths of their holes. There are a great many of these 

 little animals in some of the fields near the house, notwith- 

 standing the quantity killed by the owls, who come down 

 from the large woods every night, and hunt in the cultivated 

 grounds. 



Immense numbers of brent geese float with every tide into 

 the bays formed by the bar. As the tide recedes they land 

 on the grass and feed in closely-packed flocks. On the land 

 they are light active birds, walking quickly, and with a 

 graceful carriage. On any alarm, before rising, they run 

 together as close as they can ; thus affording a good chance 

 to the shooter, who may be concealed near enough, of mak- 

 ing his shot tell among their heads and necks. All geese 

 and swans have this habit of crowding together when first 

 alarmed. 



April is an interesting month to the ornithologist, as it is 

 then that most of the migratory birds change their quarters, 

 some leaving us, and others arriving. The regularity of 

 their going and coming is very surprising. Unless change 



