242 



But beyond that of all animals, is his pride when he 

 young are-excluded : he seems then to consider himself 

 as a champion : Jie pursues dogs and men that never 

 attempt to molest him; and though the most harmless 

 thing alive, is then the most petulant and provoking. 

 When, in this manner, he has pursued the calf or the 

 mastiff, to whose .contempt alone he is indebted for 

 safety, he returns to his female and her brood in tri- 

 umph, clapping his wings, screaming, and shewing 

 all the marks of conscious superiority. 



The Soland-Goosc, somewhat less than aland goose, 

 is white ; only the tips of its wings are black, and the 

 top of the head yellow. The bill is long, and so sharp 

 pointed, that it pierces an inch deep into a board, 

 w hen they stoop at fish which are laid thereon : this is 

 one way of catching them. When they sleep they put 

 their head under their wings ; but one keeps watch. 

 It that be surprised by the fowler, which frequently 

 happens, a!i the rest are easily caught by theneckone 

 alter another. But if the sentinel cries and gives them 

 warning, the whole flock escapes. When they fish 

 for herrings, which come in shoals, they fly near sixty 

 yards high, and stoop perpendicularly : but when 

 they aim at a single fish, they descend aslant. 



There is always one tribe among them which is bar- 

 ren : these keep together, and never mix with them 

 that build and hatch. (Is it not probable that these 

 are the malts, like the drones among the bees?) The 

 Solard grese come to the Western Isles in Scotland in 

 March, taking the advantage of a south-west wind* 

 They send a few before them who make a towr round 

 the isles, and then return to their company. In a few 

 clavs after, the whole flock comes together, and stays 

 fill September. All this time they are daily making 

 \ip their nests in the shelves of high rocks. They fish, 

 hatch, and make their nests by turns. In order to this, 

 they amass together not only heaps of grass, but what, 

 ever else they find floating on the water. In a nest 



