GENERAL REMARKS. cia 
Mr Gray says: “Previous to leaving, the Barnacle Geese 
assemble in immense flocks on the open sands, at low tide, in 
the Sounds of Benbecula and S. Uist; and as soon as one 
detachment is on the wing, it is seen to be guided by a leader, 
who points the way with strong flight northwards, maintaining 
a noisy bearing until he gets the flock into the right course. After 
an hour’s interval, he is seen returning with noisy gabble alone, 
southwards to the main body, and taking off another detachment 
as before, until the whole are gone. A notice of this singular 
habit was first communicated to me by Mr Alex. Carmichael, 
and has since been corroborated by Mr Norman M‘Donald, who 
informs me that the inhabitants of the Long Island have been 
long familiar with it.” 
