158 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS. _ [cuap, xx. 
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 instinctive 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 passes 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. Ina Icnely 
and little-frequented spot on the banks of Loch Shin, where the 
remains of walls and short green herbage point out the site of 
some former shealing or residence of cattle-herds, long since 
gone to ruin, I have frequently found the wild goose with her 
brood feeding on the fine grass that grows on what was once the 
dwelling of man. The young birds do not fly till after they are 
full grown; but are very active in the water, swimming and 
diving with great quickness. 
March is a month full of interest to the observer of the habits 
of birds, particularly of those that are migratory. During the 
last week of February and the first week in March thousands of 
_pewits appear here: first a few stragglers arrive, but in the 
course of some days the shores of the bay are literally alive with 
them. 
The black-headed gulls also arrive in great numbers. This 
bird loses the black feathers on the head during the winter, and 
at this season begins to resume them. I see the birds with their 
heads of every degree of black and white just now; in a fort- 
