NESTING-SERIES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 55 



and concealed by growing reeds and aquatic plants. From seven to 

 ten greenish-drab eggs are laid in May, and are embedded in greyish- 

 brown down, taken from the breast of the female. 



Norfolk, June. 



Presented by Lord Walsingham, F.R.S. 



No. 147. GREY LAG-GOOSE. (Anser ferns.) 

 This is the only species of Wild Goose which nests within the 

 British Islands, and is the source from which our domestic race has 

 sprung. Though not so plentiful as some of its allies during the 

 winter months, a good many pairs remain to breed in the northern parts 

 of Scotland and in the Hebrides, especially in the outer islands; while 

 in Ireland a colony is resident on the lake at Castle Coole, Co. Mona- 

 ghan. The nest, composed of reeds, moss, dry heather, etc., is generally 

 placed among coarse grass and rushes or in deep heather near the 

 edge of a loch or on an island. The yellowish-white eggs are usually 

 from four to seven in number, and are surrounded by down plucked 

 from the breast of the female. The males take no part in the 

 incubation, but associate in flocks on the nearest water. 



Sutherlandshire, May. 



Presented by Captain S. G. Reid, W. R„ Ogilvie-Grant §■ 

 G. A. St. Quintin, Esqrs. 



MODEL OP PART OP A CLIPP OP THE 

 BASS ROCK. (Nos. 148-150.) 



The Bass-Rock is one of the most celebrated breeding-stations on 

 the east coast of Scotland, and every spring countless numbers of sea- 

 birds resort there for the purpose of nesting. It rises some 420 feet 

 above the level of the sea, and the accompanying photographs give 

 some idea of the bird-life which covers the ledges of this rock. The 

 part reproduced accurately represents two shelves situated high up on 

 the precipitous face of the rock, on which the three following species 

 of sea-birds were breeding, socially, and in close proximity to one 

 another. 



No. 148. KITTIWAKE. (Rissa tridactyla.) 

 Throughout the winter months this Gull is generally distributed 

 along the coasts of the British Islands, but in summer it resorts in vast 

 numbers to rugged cliffs for the purpose of nesting. Large breeding- 







