THE GREY LAG GOOSE 213 



THE GREY LAG GOOSE. 



By Fred S. Beveridge. 



With reference to my notes on the Grey Lag Goose in your 

 April number, I described the colouring of this species' soft 

 parts from my own observations in North Uist. I now ask 

 permission to encroach upon your space by stating the facts 

 in fuller detail. Dealing first with the immature birds I will 

 tabulate these as follows : 



Immature istyear, Mid-July, end of August. Bill 

 Light orange. Nail Greyish white, sometimes horn brown. 

 LEGS and Feet Pale flesh colour often of a sickly bluish 

 white. Claws Dull white or horn brown. 



From September until and including February a con- 

 siderable change takes place, the main features being : 

 Bill Slightly darker. Nail Lighter, sometimes having 

 a pale fleshy tinge. Legs and FEET Deeper in shade. 

 Claws These, like the nail, also assume a lighter colour. 

 Till the end of the first year, and until the second year is 

 completed, this change is not so apparent, as the soft parts 

 almost reach their final hue before the bird attains adult 

 plumage. Thus these features would seem to change gradu- 

 ally until the bird attains maturity. 



Adult Birds I admit never to have witnessed, in any 

 marked degree, among North Uist examples, the " rose- 

 pink tint" to which Mr Smalley draws attention in the 

 Scottish Naturalist for June. Most adult birds, however, 

 have a slight flesh-coloured patch extending from the 

 nostril towards the nail, and also on the lower mandible. 

 The older the bird the more marked was this feature. 

 Regarding the detail of this subject, these additional notes 

 will probably make my meaning clearer. 



The following I have found to be the most distinct 



colouring for adults : Bill Orange yellow, darker towards 



base with a slight flesh colour between nostril and nail. 



Nail White. Legs and Feet Flesh colour much more 



81 2 B 



