GKEY LAG GOOSE.
ANSE R CINEREUS, Meyer.
Anas anser, Linn. S. N. i. p. 197 (1766).
Anser cinereus, Meyer, Taschenb. deutsch. Vögelk. ii. p. 552
(1810); Naum. xi. p. 229; Yarr. ed. 4, iv. p. 253;
Dresser, vi. p. 355.
Anser ferus, Macg. iv. p. 589; Hewitson, ii. p. 382.
Oie eendree, French; Grau-Gans, German; Ganso, Ganso
bravo, Oca, Spanish.
This species, although the only one of its family that
is known to breed in a wild state in Great Britain, is
considered to be the rarest of the “ Grey Geese” that
visit our Islands on their autumnal migration. My
own experience in this respect is limited to the fact
that most of the few strings of Wild Geese that pass
southwards along the valley of the Nene in August and
the first half of September are composed wholly or in
part of Grey-Lags. I am led to this conclusion by the
call-note of these early migrants, which at once distinguishes
them from any other British Wild Goose, but
almost exactly resembles that of our domestic race, j
must, however, admit that these travellers never, or
very rarely, alight in our neighbourhood, and I therefore
have not an opportunity of verifying my opinion by