the neighbourhood of Lilford in former years, during
the winter mouths. Of late years, although a good
many wild Geese pass along our valley between October
and April, very few alight in our neighbourhood, and
none make any permanent stay with us, as they were
wont to do before 1860. I have been frequently
assured that on certain pasture-lands near Gretton, in
Northamptonshire, boys were regularly employed to
scare the wild Geese, on account of the damage done to
the grass, not only by the voracity, but also by the
excrement of the birds. I know nothing, except from
others, of the habits of this species on our coasts, but
here, in Northamptonshire, the flocks used to remain in
the most open parts of our water-meadows during the
daytime, and wander about on wing with loud outcry
as darkness or moonlight came on; they did certainly
occasionally visit our stubbles by night, but I only
remember one instance of having noticed them on arable
land during the hours of daylight. I must, however,
confess that these remarks may apply equally to the
Bean-Goose, as that species used also to occur in our
neighbourhood, and so closely resembles the Pink-footed
in habits, general appearance, and cry, that it was
almost impossible to distinguish one from the other,
except when “ In hand.” The present species breeds
certainly in Spitsbergen, and eggs supposed to belong
to it have been found in Iceland. I have kept several
of this species, pinioned, on my fowl-ponds, but they
have never bred, or, so far as I know, even laid eggs at
Lilford, and seem rather to shun than court the company
of other species.