192 Wiu) Birds and their Haunts 



THE PINK-FOOTED GOOSE (ANSER 

 BRACHYRHYNCHUS. 



THE bird was first noticed as new to Britain in the 

 year 1839, when specimens were exhibited to the 

 Zoological Society, but at a remoter period it was 

 known as the short-billed goose. These birds are gener- 

 ally regarded by fishermen as the forerunners of the flocks 

 of Arctic, brent, and other geese which come upon our 

 shores at the end of the year. About half a dozen 

 are annually shot at Holy Island. 



In extreme length it is about two feet five inches ; bill 

 of a livid pink ; the nail black, but pale towards its base ; 

 the base of the bill is surrounded by a narrow list of 

 white, and the head, cheeks, and throat are dark olive 

 brown, shading into yellowish brown upon the neck ; on 

 the back and scapulars the base of the feathers is greyish 

 brown, each towards the tip inclining to yellowish-brown, 

 and finally tipped with yellowish-white ; the upper tail- 

 covers pure white, having the crescented pale mark 

 common more or less to the three species ; tail (of fourteen 

 feathers), dark at the base and broadly tipped with white, 

 the shafts of the feathers of the same colour ; the wings, 

 except the quills and greater covers, are of a paler tint, 

 the feathers tipped with the same colour with those of the 

 back ; quills are black at the tips, shading into pale grey 

 on the outer webs, with very strong, broad, white shafts ; 

 the greater covers are dark brownish-black. 



Below, the colour of the neck gradually shades into a 

 yellowish-grey on the breast and belly, interrupted by the 

 darker base of the feathers, further shading into pure white 

 on the vent and lower tail-covers ; the sides and feathers 

 covering the thighs are greyish brown, each feather 

 broadly tipped with white. The feet and legs of a livid 

 pink, the nails pale at the base, with dark tips. 



1 ' Except the solans, all sea-birds nesting on the Bass 

 Rock this season have been fully a fortnight later in 

 laying than formerly — a fact which may possibly be ac- 

 counted for by the prolonged spell of exceptionally dry 



