232 Allen's naturalist's library. 



Nest. — Described by Middendorf as placed on a grassy hillock, 

 in a hollow abundantly lined with down. Other observers state 

 that the American form makes sometimes only a depression in 

 the sand, or lines the nest with grasses and feathers as well as 

 down. 



Eggs. — From five to seven in number, though as many as ten 

 have been found. They are dull yellowish-white. Axis, 3"o- 

 3-3 inches ; diam., 2 •0-2-2. 



III. THE BEAN-GOOSE. ANSER FABALIS. 



Atias fabalis, Lath. Gen. Syn. Suppl. i. p. 297 (1787). 



Anas segetum^ Gm. S. N. i. p. 512 (1788). 



Anser segetuni, Macg. Br. B. iv. p. 595 (1852) ; Dresser, B. Eur. 



vi.p. 363, pL 412 (1879); B.O.U. List Br.B. p. 115 (1883); 



Saunders, ed. Yarr. Br. B. iv. p. 265 (1885); Seebohm, 



Br. B. iii. p. 493 (1885) ; Saunders, Man. p. 389 (1889) ; 



Lilford, Col. Fig. Br. B. part xxvi. (1893). 

 Anser fabails, Salvad. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. i. p. 100 (1895). 



Adult Male. — General colour above brown, with whity-brown 

 edges to the feathers ; the lower back and rump dull slaty- 

 blackish ; the sides of the rump and upper tail-coverts white ; 

 the tail-feathers blackish, edged and tipped with white ; the 

 wing-coverts dark slaty-grey, the inner ones, as well as the 

 median and greater coverts, brown, rather broadly edged with 

 white, like the inner secondaries ; the bastard-wing and primary- 

 coverts grey ; primaries black externally, grey for the most 

 part ; secondaries black, with broad w^hite edges ; head and 

 neck brown, with a little trace of white at the base qf the upper 

 mandible and along the base of the forehead ; the neck-feathers 

 soft antl lanceolate ; under surface of body greyish-white ; 

 throat brown, and with a brown shade overspreading the fore- 

 neck ; the sides of the body mottled with ashy or dark brown 

 feathers, which are broadly edged with whity-brown ; thighs 

 ashy-brown ; under wing-coverts dark slaty-grey, the axillaries 

 more blackish ; bill black, with an orange band in the middle ; 

 nail black ; feet orange ; iris dark brown. Total length, 30*0 

 inches; culmen, 2*5; wing, iS'o; tail, 5*4; tarsus, 3T. 



Adult Female. — Similar to the male, but a litlle smaller. 



