236 ANSERES. 



223. ANSER SEGETUM. 

 (BEAN-GOOSE.) 

 ATiser segetxnn, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. p. 512 (1788). 



The Bean-Goose has yellow legs, and an orange bill with a dark- 

 base and a dark nail. 



Figures: Dresser, Birds of Europe, vi. pi. 412 (typical form). 



The Eastern race of the Bean-Goose is a common winter visitor to 

 the Japanese Islands. There is an example in the Swiuhoe collec- 

 tion procured by Captain Blakiston at Hakodadi in October (Swin- 

 lioe. Ibis, 1875, p. 456), and there is another in the Pryer collection 

 from Tokio Bay. The former of these appears to be the first recorded 

 from Japan, unless we admit that the Anser vulgaris of Pallas (Zoogr. 

 Rosso- Asiat. ii. p. 223), of which the Kurile Island and Japanese 

 local names are quoted, refers to this species. 



The Eastern form of the Bean-Goose completely intergrades with 

 the Western form, and is consequently regarded as only subspeci- 

 fically distinct from it. The range of the species extends from the 

 Atlantic to the Pacific. 



The Eastern form of the Bean-Goose is especially remarkable for 

 its large size, and for the browner (not so grey) colour of its head. 

 Examples from Japan measure from the frontal feathers to the tip 

 of the beak 2*5, 27, and 2"9 inches. Western examples vary in this 

 respect from I '7 to 2*5 inches, and Eastern examples from 2'4 to 

 3 "4 inches. 



The Eastern form is known as Anser seffctum serrirostris (Swinhoc, 

 Proc. Zool. Soc. 1871, p. 417). 



ANSER BRACHYRHYNCHUS. 

 (pink-footed goose.) 

 Anser bvachyrhynchm, Baillon, MtSm. Soc. roy. d'6m. d'Abbeville, 1833, p. 74. 



The rink-footed Goose vory closely resembles the Bean-Goose, but the yellow 

 on the bill and feet is replaced by pink. 



Figures : Dresser, Birds of Europe, vi. pi. 413. 



The Pink-footed Goose was admitted to the Japanese fauna on the authority of 

 a female obtained in October at Hakodadi by Captain Blakiston (Swinhoe, Ibis, 

 1875, p. 4<'jG). Unfortunately this example cannot bo found in the Swinhoc col- 

 lection, and .some doubt attaches to the correctness of the identification. 



