200 BULLETIN 130, UNITEP STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



them, and when I came within sight I beheld an extraordinary and interesting 

 scene. At least 100 old geese, and quite as many young ones, pei'haps even 

 twice or thrice that number, were marching like a regiment of soldiers. The 

 vanguard, consisting of old birds, was halfway across the stream, the rear, 

 composed principally of goslings, was running down the steep bank toward the 

 water's edge as fast as their young legs could carry them. Both banks of 

 the river, where the geese had doubtless been feeding, were strewn with 

 feathers, and in five minutes I picked up a handful of quills. The flock was 

 evidently migrating to the interior of the tundra, molting as it went along. 



Yarrell (1871) quotes Sir Ralph Payne-Galhvey as saying that in 

 Ireland — 



It is by far the commonest species, and may be seen in enormous " gaggles " 

 for six months of every year. It is essentially an inland feeder on bogs and 

 meadows, but will fly to the mud banks and slob of the tide at dusk to pass 

 the night. These geese frequent every bog and marsh in Ireland which afford 

 food and security from molestation. They are always found inland in large 

 numbers save in frost, when they fly down to the meadows and soft green re- 

 claimed lands that lie near the tide. A small proportion will, in the wildest 

 weather, frequent the mud banks to feed «nd rest. They usually quit their 

 inland haunts at dusk, disliking to remain on land by night when dogs, men, 

 or cattle may disturb them, and accordingly fly to the estuaries to rest and 

 feed. At first dawn they again wing inland and pass the day in open, unap- 

 proachable ground. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Breeding range. — Northern Palaearctic region. East in northern 

 Siberia to the Taimyr Peninsula. South to about 64° N. in Siberia, 

 Russia, Kola, Finland, and Scandinavia. Also on Kolguev and 

 Nova Zembla. Replaced in eastern Siberia by closely allied forms. 



'Winter range. — Europe and western Asia. South to northern 

 China, casually northern India, Persia, the Mediterranean Sea, and 

 rarely to northern Africa. West to Great Britain. 



Casual record. — A specimen in the Zoological Museum of Copen- 

 hagen is said to have come from northern Greenland. 



Egg dates. — Northern Europe: Eight records, April 29 to June 

 20. Novaya Zemlia: One record, July 9. 



ANSER BRACHYRHYNCHUS Baillon 

 PINK-FOOTED GOOSE 



HABITS 



An accidental occurrence of this Old World species in eastern 

 Greenland had long been the slim excuse we had for including the 

 pink-footed goose in the list of American birds, until recently, Sep- 

 tember 25, 1924, one was taken in Essex County, Massachusetts. 



This and the bean goose resemble each other so closely in general 

 appearance and habits that much confusion has arisen as to the 



