226 



BIRDS. 



indication of immaturity. This white on the nnder mandible dis- 

 appears as the birds approach maturity, but remains longer on the 

 base of the upper mandible. This is coincident with other changes 

 of plumage. Thus the white on the under mandible is coincident 

 with a mottled breast in a young bird, and also with the lighter 

 weight. The blacker the breast and the less white on the base of the 

 bill and absence of white on the lower mandible, the greater is the 

 indication of approaching maturity and fully adult stages. 



Bernicla leucopsis (BechsL). Bernicle Goose. 



Eare. Irregular or occasional. 



Col. Drummond Hay does not include it in his lists up to 1880, 

 but I have myself obtained it from Tents Muir shore, shot by my 

 old friend Mr. J. R W. Cook ; a few others have been obtained or 

 recorded by Mr. AValker, also near St. Andrews ; and there is one in 

 the Museum there, shot in St. Andrews Bay, October 1870. 



It is considered as of doubtful occurrence on the Forfar coast by 

 Dr. Dewar. 



Millais considers it "a very rare species on the Tay estuary." 

 He adds : "I have only once seen it, when an individual frequented 

 the Lucky Scaup for the winter of 1885. M^Kinnes at Glencorse 

 told me that he had only once seen a small flock and had killed 

 one of them." 



Bernicla brenta (Pall). Brent Goose. 



For the most part a coast frequenter, but occasionally got inland. Not 

 considered to be very abundant, and probably not nearly so common 

 as it is on the upper reaches of the Firth of Forth and along the 

 Stirlingshire shore. 



At inland localities it has been recorded from Methven Loch and 

 on the Tay a little above Perth (aucL Mr. Malloch). A Methven 

 bird was shot by Lord Strathallan's son in March 1878. Others have 

 been seen or obtained about the same time of year. I only give one 

 instance to fix a date. 



Dr. Dewar considers it "rare in his district." 



Millais writes that he has only killed the black form of the Brent 

 on the Tay and Eden; "whereas in the Moray Firth I have shot 

 all the three known races — the black, the white-breasted, and the 

 intermediate form in one flock." He adds : " I have once killed a 

 Brent Goose from a small flock at the Lucky Scaup in the middle of 



