twenty-seven shot in a day by sportsmen lying-up for them
behind gate-posts in the Holkham marshes, in a gale of
wind, when the Geese fly low. As regards the Humber
district, Mr. Cordeaux informs the Editor that he now
believes it to he the commonest of the ‘ Grey ’ Geese ;
Mr. W. Eagle Clarke says the same of the eastern part
of Yorkshire, and Mr. Abel Chapman sends a similar report
of Northumberland. Mr. Mitchell thinks that on the whole
it is the most abundant of the ‘ Grey ’ species on the
Lancashire coast. It occurs in winter in suitable localities
along the eastern side of Scotland, but it has not yet been
remarked in Shetland; it is also found on the west side,
and in the Hebrides, but John Macgillivray’s statement as
to its breeding in the latter is now proved to be erroneous.
In the south of England its occurrences are less frequent.
It is said to have been observed in Ireland, hut Mr. A. G.
More informs the Editor that he is not, as yet, aware of
the existence of an authentic specimen obtained in that
island.
The Pink-footed Goose occurs in Iceland, and the late
Mr. Proctor several times received birds with the eggs of
which they were said to be the parents. It appears to be the
only species of ‘Grey’ Goose found breeding in Spitsbergen;
and may perhaps he the Goose of some kind which was
observed by Mr. Leigh Smith’s party on Franz-Josef Land;
hut on Novaya Zemlya the only species found by Capt.
Markham proved, as already stated, to be the Bean Goose.
It occurs in Norway, but assertions that it breeds there have
not been absolutely confirmed by Mr. Collett’s subsequent
experience, although probably correct. Accurate information
is scanty respecting its distribution in Sweden, Denmark
(where Mr. Ehves identified it in May), Russia, and in fact
throughout the greater part of Europe; but examples are
known to have been obtained on passage in Holland, Belgium,
and France. Authenticated specimens have been
obtained in winter in Northern India, but not in Siberia or
China, and the bird recorded by Swinlioe under this name
from Japan has proved to be A. erythropus.
The nest is said to be placed in situations commanding
an extensive view, and the male is constantly on the watch
to warn his mate of any approaching danger. Messrs.
Cocks and Chapman found three pairs with goslings in the
yellow downy state at Magdalena Bay, Spitsbergen, on the
29th July, by which date the adults had recovered the use
of their wings, being more advanced in their moult than
the Brent Geese. The eggs are rather less than those of
the Bean Goose, of a pure white colour, and measure 8*15
by 2'25 in.
In captivity the Pink-footed Goose is said to keep apart
from its congeners. The Zoological Society had a male for
several years which never associated with any other birds ;
and the Ornithological Society had a female which, during
the summer of 1840, would not associate with any of the
various species kept with her in St. James’s Park; yet she
laid eight eggs, and began to sit, but of course there were no
proceeds. In the wild state, Mr. John Macdonald of North
Uist says, that in their habits birds of this species differ
from the Grey Lag, with which they do not associate, and
he has seen them in parks and enclosures near houses,
localities generally avoided by the latter except when
tempted by corn or young clover.
The voice of the Pink-footed Goose differs from that of
the Bean Goose in being sharper in tone, and the note is
also repeated more rapidly.
The bill is hut one inch and five-eighths in length, considerably
shorter than the head, narrow, and much contracted
towards the tip ; the nail, and the space from the nostrils to
the base black, the intermediate space pink; the irides dark
brown; head and neck dark ash-brown, the colour becoming
lighter towards the lower part of the neck; back brownish-
grey, edged and tipped with dull white; upper wing-coverts
bluish-grey; primary quill-feathers lead-grey, with white
shafts; the secondaries still darker, almost bluish-black;
rump greyish-ash colour; upper tail-coverts white; tail-
feathers grey, edged and tipped with white ; neck in front,
breast, and belly, pale ash-brown, with lighter-coloured
VOL. IV. N N