THE GREY-LAG GOOSE 



Lag Geese inhabiting South Uist, obtained from his gamekeeper, Murdoch 

 MacDonald, a most careful observer. Owing to want of space I have been obliged 

 to condense them as follows : 



This Goose breeds in the Outer Hebrides, nesting on the islands of fresh-water 

 lochs, and lays from four to eight eggs, the average number of the broods consisting 

 of about five birds. 



The female sits very closely on her eggs, almost allowing herself to be handled 

 before moving off. They pair in March, and by the end of April or early in May 

 the young are hatched. As soon as the latter are able to fly they come down to the 

 low ground or " machars," where they choose a flat place as their camp. In this 

 sanctuary they remain for a fortnight or so, and as soon as they have acquired their 

 full powers of flight, move about in search of the best feeding ground. When the 

 grain is ripe they frequent the harvest fields, but feed chiefly on grass and plant 

 roots, and also in hard weather are seen among the turnips and in potato fields. 

 Their usual feeding hours are in the early morning and again in the evening, the 

 birds generally resting during the day on some fresh-water loch. They are 

 difficult to stalk, as they always take care not to approach within range of any wall 

 or dyke. 



It is seldom possible to drive them twice over the same ground if they have 

 once been shot at, as " they shy the place where they have been cheated, and 

 change their course in the opposite direction." When a flock is feeding, one or 

 two of the old birds are always posted as sentinels, who at once give the alarm if 

 anything suspicious is seen or heard, when they all take wing to safer quarters. 

 On moonlight nights they become much bolder, often at such times approaching 

 steadings, but always taking their departure very early before anyone is astir. 



Some twenty years ago my friend Mr. J. H. Dixon had a small flock of this 

 species living in a semi-domesticated condition at Inveran, by Loch Maree. 

 These birds roamed about at their own free will, and I have often seen them in 

 company with wild Grey-Lags, which acquired a certain amount of tameness from 

 association with the others ; and at times they might all be seen feeding in the 

 fields near the house. 



When travelling, this and other kinds of Wild Geese fly in a wedge-shaped 

 formation. The four species drawn on Plate 43 represent what are known to shore- 

 shooters as "Grey" Geese, who thus distinguish them from the so-called "Black" 

 Geese (the Brent and Bernacle). 



The colour of the Grey-Lag's bill is orange with a white nail, the latter forming 

 a ready means of distinguishing it from the Pink-footed and Bean Geese, in both of 

 which the nail is black. The sexes as in all our Geese do not differ in colour. 



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