160 THE BIRDS OF OUR RAMBLES. 



during the love season the drake often utters 

 a harsh grunting noise, and a shriller note. 



Banished from the fens and marshes of the 

 low-lying English counties by the reclamation of 

 North of its favourite haunts, the GRAY-LAG GOOSE (Anser 

 HebrTd e e S s s .' ciuerczis) now almost only breeds upon these 

 c r altie d: lonely northern moors. Its loud gag-gag and 

 Meghan, trumpet - like clamour is a well - known sound 

 enough in early summer, amidst these vast scenes 

 of desolation, this wilderness of heather, rock, 

 and water. All through the breeding season this 

 Goose is remarkably social, yet combats are of 

 frequent occurrence between rival ganders. The 

 big nest is made in April or May, a site being 

 chosen among the heath or the coarse vegetation 

 in the more * swampy parts of its haunts, in the 

 least frequented part of the moors. It is made of 

 heather branches, rushes, fern, and turf, and lined 

 with down and feathers from the parent's body. 

 The six eggs are white and spotless, resembling 

 in every respect those of the tame Goose, this 

 bird's domesticated descendant. All through the 

 nesting period the gander keeps watch and ward 

 over his sitting mate. The principal food of 

 this bird is grass, but in autumn it visits the 

 stubbles for grain. The Gray-lag Goose is a 

 resident in this country, but changes its ground 

 according to season, and in autumn its numbers 

 are largely increased by northern migrants. This 

 bird is distinguished from its congeners by its 

 flesh-coloured legs, feet, and beak, and the few 

 black markings on the underparts. 



The Commons and the Heaths of our southern 

 counties are in many respects moors in miniature; 

 and, like these upland wastes, they are the haunt 



