GEESE 239 



the last 200 years rather indicates that the birds shot 

 in winter have escaped from semi-domestication. 



See a note on the migration of the Canada 

 Goose by the late Dr. John Rae, ZooL, 1884, p. 346. 



There are said to be three forms, or even species, of 

 the Canada Goose : (l) The true Bernicla canadensis; 

 (2) A short-billed variety known as Hutchins's Goose; 

 and (3) A long-billed variety, leucolsema, described 

 and figured by Andrew Murray, Proc. Roy. Phys. 

 Soc. Edinb., vol. ii. pp. 51-53. 



EGYPTIAN GOOSE. Chenalopex xgyptiacus (Linnaeus). 

 Length, 28 in. ; bill, 1*75 in. ; wing, 16 in. ; tarsus, 3 in. 



Generally regarded as an annual winter visitant, but 

 really an introduced species, not known to have crossed 

 the Mediterranean without man's intervention. 



The birds of this species found on our coasts in 

 winter are probably wanderers from private lakes 

 and pools on which ornamental waterfowl are kept 

 temporarily confined by having their flight feathers 

 cut. They recover the use of their wings on moulting 

 and make their escape, usually to meet the fate of 

 such wanderers by being shot and recorded as rarae 

 aves in terris. The young also when able to fly 

 often make their escape before they can be pinioned. 



SHELD-DRAKE. Tadorna vulpanser (Linnseus). PI. 

 28, figs. 14, 15. Length, 26 in. ; bill, 2-4 in. ; wing, 13 

 in. ; tarsus, 2 in. 



A local resident, frequenting the sandhills upon 

 the coast, where it usually, though not invariably, 



