XIX HABITS OF WILD GEESE • 179 



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immediately attended to, at the same time uttering a querulous 

 kind of cry. This bird then takes up the watch, with neck 

 perfectly upright, and in due time makes some other bird relieve 

 guard. On the least appearance of an enemy, the sentinel 

 gives an alarm, and the whole flock invariably run up to him, 

 and for a moment or two stand still in a crowd, and then take 

 flight ; at first in a confused mass, but this is soon changed into 

 a beautiful wedge-like rank, which they keep till about to alight 

 again. Towards evening, I observe the geese coming from the 

 interior, in numerous small flocks, to the bay ; in calm weather, 

 flying at a great height ; and their peculiar cry is heard some 

 time before the birds are in sight. As soon as they are above 

 the sands, where every object is plainly visible, and no enemy 

 can well be concealed, flock after flock wheel rapidly down- 

 wards, and alight at the edge of the water, where they 

 immediately begin splashing and washing themselves, keeping 

 up an almost incessant clamour. In the morning they again 

 take to the fields. Those flocks that feed at a distance start 

 before sunrise ; but those that feed nearer to the bay do not 

 leave their roosting-place so soon. During stormy and misty 

 weather, the geese frequently fly quite low over the heads of the 

 work-people in the fields, but even then have a kind of instinct- 

 ive dread of any person in the garb of a sportsman. I have 

 also frequently got shots at wild geese, by finding out the pools 

 where they drink during the daytime. They generally alight 

 at the distance of two or three hundred yards from the pool ; 

 and after watching motionless for a few minutes, all start off" in 

 a hurry to get their drink. This done, they return to the open 

 fields or the sea-shore. 



In some parts of Sutherland — for instance on Loch Shin, 

 and other lonely and unfrequented pieces of water — the wild 

 goose breeds on the small islands that dot these waters. If 

 their eggs are taken and hatched under tame geese, the young 

 are easily domesticated ; but, unless pinioned or confined, they 

 always take to flight with the first flock of wild geese that 

 pass over the place during the migrating season. Even when 

 unable to fly, they evince a great desire to take wing at this 

 season, and are very restless for a few weeks in spring and 

 autumn. In a lonely and little-frequented spot on the banks 

 of Loch Shin, where the remains . of walls and short green 



