OF NATURAL HISTORY. 489 



be probable that moft of the duck-kind migrate, yet it is certain 

 that fome individuals of different fpecies of them breed in this coun- 

 try, and continue in it during the whole year. As to the duck- 

 kind in general, Mr Pennant remarks : ' Of the numerous fpecies 

 ' that form this genus, we know of no more than five that breed 

 ' here. The tame fwan and tame goofe, the Shield duck, the eider 

 ' duck, and a very fmall portion of the zvild ducks. The reft con- 

 ' tribute to form that amazing multitude of water fowl that annu- 

 ' ally repair from moft parts of Europe to the woods and lakes of 



* Lapland, and other Ardic regions *, there to perform the func- 



* tions of incubation and nutrition in full fecurity. They and their 



* young quit their retreat in September, and difperfe themfelves over 



* Europe. With us they make their appearance the beginning of 



* October, circulate firft round our ftiores, and, when compelled by 



* fevere froft, betake themfelves to our lakes and rivers f.' 



In winter, the bernacles, or brent-ducks, appear in vaft flocks on 

 the north-weft coafts of Britain. They are very fliy and wild ; but, 

 when taken, they foon grow as familiar as our domeftic ducks. They 

 leave the Britifti fhores in February, and migrate as far as Lapland, 

 Greenland, and even Spitfbergen J. 



The folan-geefe, or gannets, are likewife birds of pafTage. They 

 frequent the ifle of Ailfay, near the Frith of Clyde; the rocks adja- 

 cent to St Kilda, the moft remote of the Hebrides j the Skelig ifles, 

 off the coaft of Kerry ; and the Bafs ifle in the Frith of Forth. The 

 multitudes which frequent thefe places are piodigious. To give an 

 t 3 0^ idea 



* Collect. Voyag. Dutch Eaft India Company, 8vo, 1703. pag. 19. Clufii Exot. 

 pag. 368. 



f Pennant's Britifh Zoology, vol. 2. pag. 519. — 520. 



% Linn. Amoen, Acad. torn. 4. pag. 585. Barent's Voyage, pag. 19. 



