VOL. XV.] NOTES. 89 



of this month, when thirty or so were seen, and in 1919, on 

 the 22nd, when between twenty and thirty returned to the 

 " flow." 



In 1920, on the i8th of August, whilst grouse-driving 

 fifteen to sixteen geese were reported as being on the lochs, 

 as the beaters came through the " drive." This is an extra- 

 ordinary date, yet keepers who had shot the birds many 

 times and foresters, hillmen who have seen them year by year, 

 were certain of " the " Geese, as they call them. 



My own experience of the Bean-Goose is that the call is 

 more "clarion " than the "Grey-Lag," and as compared with 

 the Pink-footed Goose, which bird I am familiar with on the 

 wolds of Yorkshire, the bird is more " stumpy " and not so 

 " thoroughbred." The Bean favours the " line " rather 

 than the "V" in flight. 



The date of departure from here is some time in April — 

 usually late. On the 22nd in 1916 I saw eighteen flying 

 north. This year the date of departure was unusually late. 

 It was the ist of May — a very warm Sunday. Migrants were 

 passing north in great haste and numbers. Fieldfares crowded 

 noisily on the tops of the fir plantations all day and then flew 

 off in the evening in chattering streams. Golden Plovers were 

 speeding by in troops of 60-80 at a terrific pace and at regular 

 intervals. At midday, with the sun at its brightest, I heard 

 a gaggle of geese approaching, and had just time to fetch the 

 field-glasses, when sixty Bean-Geese passed over the paddock 

 at only forty feet up. They were making due north, and the 

 flesh colours were plainly discernible. 



The Bean-Geese feed by day upon rough grazing land, often 

 where it is thickly covered with "thrashes." At dusk they 

 repair to the edges of the loch and rest upon the highest banks. 

 If frozen over, they rest on the centre, their droppings showing 

 the exact resting place, while their tracks on the powdered ice 

 indicate their route to the open watering places. 



I believe they are entirely herbivorous during their sojourn 

 here, and they have never been observed upon "stubble." 

 They are exceedingly wary — few being obtained each season. 

 The weights of two immatures I happened to keep were only 

 6 lb. 2 oz. and 7 lb. i oz., the former exceptionally light. 



E. Richmond Paton. 



GOOSANDERS, BLACK-NECKED GREBE AND 

 SHELD-DUCKS IN SURREY. 



On March 13th, 1920, Mr. H. H. Earwig and I observed a 

 party of thirteen Goosanders {Mergus merganser) on Frensham 



