On Moorlands and Roughs. 73 



moors, but as it breeds as generally in more lowland 

 localities we can scarcely describe it as a typical 

 moorland bird. The same remarks may be said to 

 apply to the Teal, the Wigeon, and some few 

 others. Then in the moorland fastnesses of the 

 Hebrides, and in some parts of the mainland High- 

 lands, the Gray-lag Goose still finds a haunt suffi- 

 ciently seclusive, although we are assured that its 

 numbers are decreasing. We know from personal 

 experience that it breeds amongst the ling and 

 heather on some of the Outer Hebrides, making a 

 huge nest of branches and twigs, rushes, and other 

 dry vegetation which is finally lined with down. 

 The six to eight eggs are creamy-white in colour. 

 This bird again is by no means a typical moorland 

 one, for it formerly bred in the fens of East Anglia, 

 and would do so to this day had it not been exter- 

 minated. Of the Gull tribe, perhaps the most 

 characteristic moorland species are the Skuas, two 

 species of which are summer migrants to certain of 

 our wildest Highland moors. Where the moors 

 extend down to the coast in various northern districts, 

 such birds as Terns, Sheldrakes, and Eider Ducks 

 may be found breeding upon them, but we can 

 scarcely regard such species or such localities to come 

 within the scope of the present chapter. 



