When the winter is very severe here, and the seeds are covered with a thick layer of snow, Geese go still further south, some of them even crossing the Mediterranean; but they return directly the weather becomes milder. From this comes the shepherd’s prophecy: “When the geese go south we may expect great cold; when they go north warmer weather is coming.” The birds assemble in great flocks,--usually at the beginning of March, if wind and weather are favourable--and return to their home, where, separating into strings, they scatter themselves over the Polar regions. * * * * * This is the “Wild-goose” as known to shore shooters. It does not breed in our islands at all, but comes to us in [Illustration: THE BEAN GOOSE.] the autumn, and is to be seen in numbers on some of our coasts all through the winter. In cold weather it is fairly common on the mainland of Scotland. From autumn to spring it is found in all parts of Ireland, and is the commonest of the inland feeding Geese. “Very awkward mistakes, and sad ones too some of them, have been made sometimes when these birds have been feeding on the saltings and marshes close to the tide, for at certain seasons the Geese will feed at night and then is the time to go after them. On one occasion a fowler shot his horse by mistake, and at another time a man shot his own son. Such incidents were once only too common. Fowl, feeding at night, bunch themselves up, taking strange shapes, and when alarmed they run before flighting, but they are not very wary, nor have they the keen sight of other wild fowl.” “Gabble-retchet” is the term applied to the cry of the Geese on flight. An old proverb says: “Its aye fine when the Goose honks (or cries) high.” This in the Eastern States of America has been corrupted into: “It’s aye fine when the goose _hangs_ high,” and is often taken as meaning when there’s plenty in the larder. This Goose is 34 inches in length. The beak is black, the knob of it being orange-coloured, as is also a broad oblique stripe on the nostrils. The points of the wings when folded extend over the tail. The prevailing colour is brownish-grey; the edges of the feathers and the breast lighter. The flight feathers are dark brown, so are the eyes, legs reddish-brown. [Illustration: HARMFUL. THE WILD DUCK OR MALLARD.] THE WILD DUCK OR MALLARD. (_Anas bóscas._) The nest of the Mallard is placed in the sedges of the marsh, in cornfields, and--strangely enough--on willow stumps and in large holes in trees. It is carelessly put together, but is lined with soft downy feathers. It lays ten or twelve strong yellowish-white eggs.