36 TOUR IN SUTHERLAND. CH. III. 



geese breeding in Sutherland, excepting on the 

 islands of Loch Shin, 1 where a few still breed 

 annually in spite of the constant and cruel war- 

 fare waged against them. The number of eggs 

 in each nest was from four to seven, and they had 

 all been apparently sat upon for some time : indeed 

 we found one brood of young birds at least four or 

 five days old. This being on the 18 th of May, 

 proves that this bird arrives at its breeding-place 

 very early. A goose sits a month, so that sup- 

 posing these young birds were four days old, it 

 carries back the time when the old bird commenced 

 sitting to the 14th of April; and then allowing 

 ten days for the bird to prepare her nest and lay 

 her eggs, the Gray lag goose cannot arrive at the 

 breeding-places later than the 1st or 2d of April. 

 The Bean goose arrives in Morayshire and that part 

 of Scotland from the south as nearly as possible in 

 the third week of March, their arrival a few days 

 earlier or later depending on the state of the weather; 

 and the flocks do not leave that country till the 

 29th or 30th of April, some few even remaining 

 several days afterwards. This fact shows a great 

 distinction in the habits of the two kinds of geese ; 

 for while the Bean goose (Anser segetum) is still 



1 An error. The Bean goose breeds nowhere in Scotland. 

 J. A. H.-B. 



