WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. 5 



slender, and its weak bill long ; as in other greys, 'iihe feathers 

 on the nape and back of the neck stand out in a mane. When 

 the bird is feeding the neck is not curved as in the swans, but 

 has a sharp kink or angle ; this is noticeable in any greys, when 

 with neck stretched and beak open one bird attacks another in 

 play or anger. 



Immigrant Beans arrive in September and October, and 

 some linger until April or later. They share the field-feeding 

 habit with the Grey Lag, and both near the coast and inland 

 the bird is a hanger-on at the harvest. 



The upper parts of the mature bird are greyish brown, darker 

 than in the Grey Lag, but the shoulders are sometimes grey, 

 though never so blue. The pattern or barring on the wings 

 and scapulars, due to the pale and often white edgings of the 

 feathers contrasting with the brown, is more distinct than in 

 the previous species. One March-killed male examined was 

 almost as grey as a Grey Lag, but the rump was distinctly 

 brown. The under parts are pale brown on the breast, passing 

 to dirty white, often showing obscure bars. The bill is black 

 at base and tip, including the nail, crossed by an orange or 

 deep yellow band, the size and shape of which varies individu- 

 ally. The legs are orange or pinkish yellow, the irides dark 

 brown. There are sometimes white feathers at the base of the 

 bill. The goose is smaller than the gander ; the young bird 

 is darker except on the rufous-tinged neck. Length, 31-34 ins. 

 Wing, 17*5-19 ins. Tarsus, 3 ins. 



White-fronted Goose. Anser albifrojis (Scop.). 



The White-fronted Goose (Plate 4) is a winter visitor, often 

 numerous, especially on the west coast and in Ireland. Its 

 northern breeding area extends from Greenland and Iceland to 

 northern Siberia, including most Arctic islands ; in winter it 

 reaches southern Europe, northern India, and north Africa. 



