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The disappearance of greylag geese (Anser anser) from Scotland is attributed to excessive disturbance from continual shooting, an aerial bombing range, increasing motor traffic and summer trout fishing in lakes previously undisturbed, egg destruction by farmers who do not want greylag geese in their oat fields, the demand for eggs by collectors who offer the hill shepherds good sums for nests, and disturbance by aircraft. The book has sections on greater white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons), bean geese (Anser fabalis), pink-footed geese (Anser brachyrhynchus), snow goose (Chen caerulescens), brant (Branta bernicla), and Canada geese (Branta canadensis). Section II of the book covers 21 species of ducks. The summary for ducks covers natural enemies (crows, gulls, swans, rats, stoats, angler fish, and pike); destruction caused by man (oil pollution, stake-netting for fish, flight-netting, egg-taking, and excessive shooting); results of increasing traffic (road traffic, boats and shipping, and airplanes); and changes in available food supplies (agriculture, natural feeding, drainage and afforestation, and effects of climate).