216 EARLY ANNALS OF ORNITHOLOGY 
the 8th, we arrived at Scarborough, distant from Malton 
sixteen miles. This town hath a great trade of fish taken 
thereabout. We saw ling, cod fish, skate, thornback, turbot, 
whiting and herring. They take also conger, bret [brill] and 
mackrell. . . . August the 9th, from Scarborough we journeyed 
to Whitby, twelve miles. . . . The country people hereabout 
told us the story related by Camden, that wild geese, if once 
they light in Whitby strand, cannot rise again or fly away. . .” 
This venerable legend, which claims such high antiquity, 
runs in the Cottonian MSS. thus: ‘“‘ Not farre from Whitby 
is a peice of grounde called Whitby stronde, over which 
the inhabitants affyrme that noe wildgoose can flye, .. .” 
William Camden, the historian, does not mention a strand, 
but locates the dangerous spot ‘over certain neighbouring 
fields hereabouts.”’ Very likely, as in the case of other legends, 
it had a foundation in incidents now long since forgotten. 
After passing within sight of Holy Island, ‘ but the tide 
served us not to pass over,” and the Farne islands, the 
travellers lodged at Berwick, that is John Ray and Philip 
Skippon, for Scott’s statement * that Willughby was one of 
the company must be erroneous. 
About birds there is nothing more until they crossed 
the Scottish border and came to the Bass Rock, of the 
celebrity of which Ray was doubtless well aware. He thus 
refers to what has always been the most eastern station of 
the Soland-Goose.t ‘‘ August 17th [1661], we travelled to 
Dunbar. . . . August the 19th we went to Leith, keeping all 
along on the side of the Fryth. By the way we viewed 
Tontallon Castle, and passed over to the Basse Island, where 
we saw, on the rocks, innumerable of the soland geese. The 
old ones are all over white, excepting the pinion or hard. 
feathers of their wings which are black. The upper part 
of the head and neck, in those that are old is of a yellowish 
dun colour; they lay but one egg apiece, which is white and 
oD 
not very large. They are very bold, and sit in great multi- 
* “Select Remains of The Learned John Ray,” p. 132, by George Scott 
(1760). 
j As pointed out by Professor G. S. Boulger. See “ Correspondence of 
John Ray,’ p. 3 (published by The Ray Society). 
t “Select Remains,’ p. 191. 
