PINK-FOOTED GOOSE. 7 



Others have since been reported, but the exact status of 

 the species is uncertain. The range of the bird is restricted ; 

 it is known to breed in Lapland and Novaia Zemha and in 

 eastern Siberia, and winters rather further north than the last 

 species. It is smaller, darker, and has a shorter bill than the 

 other, and sometimes has a greater extent of frontal white ; 

 the validity of the species has, however, been questioned, and 

 it might, with some reason, be treated as a small race of A. 

 albifrons. Chapman's bird was immature ; the breast was 

 "warm reddish brown " and the belly grey dappled with black. 

 The bill was pink, the legs yellow-ochre. Length, 20-24 ins. 

 Wing, 15-5 ins. Tarsus, 2*5 ins. 



Pink-footed Goose. Afiser brachyrhyncJms Baillon. 



The Pink-footed Goose (Plate 4), a winter visitor, is in 

 many parts the best known of our grey geese ; though most 

 numerous on the east coast it is locally abundant in the west, 

 but only a straggler to Ireland. It breeds in Iceland and 

 Spitzbergen and perhaps in other islands, and winters in 

 western Europe. 



As the specific name implies, the bird may be recognised by 

 its short bill, black at base and tip and with an intermediate 

 pink rather than orange band, usually smaller than that on the 

 bill of the Bean. The legs are flesh-coloured or pink. Although 

 a brownish bird it looks very light in sunlight, this being partly 

 due to the blue-grey shoulders and greyish back, darker than 

 those of the Grey Lag. 



The Pink-foot is gregarious; the gaggles are frequently huge. 

 The skeins fly in lines, V's, or double chevron formation ; the 

 birds call constantly as they fly ; their metallic voices carry for 

 great distances. The quality varies, some are harsh, others 

 shrill and musical. When following the tide the birds alight 

 on the uncovered banks and stand alert with necks uplifted. 



