598 ANSER SEGETUM. 



1^, its breadth behind the unguis, -fe; tarsus, 3-^; hind 

 toe, -^y, its claw, -fa ; second toe, -^j, its claw, -^ ; third toe, 

 3, its claw, -j% ; fourth toe, 2-L§-, its claw, -fe. 



Female. — The female is similar to the male, but smaller- 



Variations. — The differences in the colours of the plu- 

 mage are not remarkable. The bill varies in having the 

 black at its base more or less extended. I have a specimen 

 in which none remains unless on the ridge, as far as the 

 nostrils. It appears that the orange colour is more extended 

 the older the individual is. 



Habits. — This species occurs in various parts of Britain 

 during the winter and spring, and in Ireland " is a regular 

 winter visitant." It does not breed in any part of England, 

 or in the southern and middle divisions of Scotland. In 

 the outer Hebrides, however, flocks are seen in summer and 

 autumn. I find by one of my journals that, in 1819, I ex- 

 amined four individuals that had been shot by my uncle's 

 shepherd in the small island of Copay, on the west coast of 

 Harris, where I have often in autumn gathered the quills 

 that had been shed by them, as they fed undisturbed on the 

 rich pasturage. But, although I have been informed that 

 they breed on several islands there, especially on Gasker, 

 which is farther out in the ocean, and a favourite resort of 

 seals, I never found its nest, or met with unfledged young. 

 In early autumn, when the barley begins to ripen, flocks 

 commit great havock among it in unfrequented places, often 

 at night, but mostly at early dawn. It is almost impossible 

 to approach them while thus feeding, however irregular the 

 ground may be, as they see at night much better than their 

 enemy. In the end of autumn, when they often feed at 

 night in the pools and shallow lakes, I have often tried to 

 steal upon them in the dark ; but, although creeping among 

 sand-banks, never succeeded. Once, when, after long crawl- 

 ing in the most cautious manner, I got within what I con- 

 ceived to be the proper distance, hearing the geese puddling 

 in the water before me, I let fly into the thickest part of the 



