1600 Birds. 



two birds are merely the same species in different degrees of maturity ; 

 but I do not consider that there is the least doubt as to their being 

 quite distinct. I have frequently shot what I suppose to be the young 

 golden-eye not arrived at its full plumage ; but in these the white spot 

 at the corner of the mouth is more or less visible. The birds are larger 

 than the morillon, besides which the golden-eye, in whatever stage of 

 maturity it is found, always makes that peculiar noise with its wings, 

 when flying, which is not heard in the flight of the morillon, or of any 

 other kind of duck. I remember, too, once watching a pair of moril- 

 lons in a Highland loch, late in the spring : they had evidently paired, 

 and were come to the age of maturity, and ready for breeding. 



" The golden-eye dives well, remaining a considerable time under 

 water seeking its food, which consists of small shell-fish which it finds 

 at the bottom. The morillon frequents the same places as the gol- 

 den eye, but always remains singly or in pairs, whereas the latter 

 birds frequently unite in small flocks, particularly when they take to 

 the inland lochs, which they do at the commencement of the spring." 

 —p. 131. 



Wild Geese. — " The first wild geese that we see here (Morayshire) 

 are not the common gray goose, but the white-fronted, or laughing 

 goose, {Anas albifrons), called by Buffon VOye rieuse. This bird has 

 a peculiarly harsh and wild cry, whence its name. It differs in ano- 

 ther respect also from the common gray goose, in preferring clover 

 and green wheat to corn for its food. Indeed, this bird appears to 

 me to be wholly graminivorous. Unlike the gray goose too, it roosts, 

 when undisturbed in any grass-field where it may have been feeding 

 in the afternoon instead of taking to the bay every night for its sleep- 

 ing quarters. The laughing goose also never appears here in 

 large flocks, but in small companies of from eight or nine to twenty 

 birds. 



" Though very watchful at all times, they are more easily ap- 

 proached than the gray goose, and often feed on ground that admits 

 of stalking them. I see them occasionally feeding in small swamps 

 and patches of grass surrounded by high banks, furze, or trees. The 

 gray goose appears to select the most open and extensive fields in the 

 country to feed in, always avoiding any bank or hedge that may con- 

 ceal a foe." — p. 151. 



We shall probably at an early date return to Mr. St. John's amus- 

 ing and instructive work. 



