P IN K - F O O T E D GOOSE.
PINK-FOOTED GOOSE.
ANSER BRACHYRHYNCHUS, Bâillon.
Anser brachyrhynclms, Baillon, Mém. de la Soc. Roy. d Em.
d’Abbev. 1833, p. 74; Macg. iv. p. 602; Hewitson, ii.
p. 386; Yarr. ed. 4, iv. p. 270; Dresser, vi. p. 36'9.
Oie a bee court, French.
This is decidedly the most common of the “ Grey ”
Geese that visit the eastern districts of England in the
autumn and winter, but it was not till 1839 that it was
clearly distinguished from its very close congener, the
Bean-Goose, in a paper by Mr. A. D. Bartlett, read
before the Zoological Society. I may here mention
that the most constant and certain external distinctions
between this species and the Bean-Goose are the proportionate
shortness of the bill and the smaller size of the
subject of this article; in fact, I am of opinion that the
best English name for this bird would be Short-billed
Goose, as the pink colour of the legs and feet is by no
means an invariable character. I have seen very large
flocks of this species in West Norfolk on various
occasions in October, November, and December, and a
great many used to frequent the valley of the Nene in