'Geese of Europe and Ash/.' 531 



certainly met with, but everywhere in scant numbers as 

 compared with M. arvensis." But in Italy, from what I 

 know, it is quite the reverse. I have been assured that 

 A. arvensis has also been found in Italy, but in any case it 

 is very rare compared with A. segetum, which is extremely 

 abundant in winter. This difference in the number of 

 specimens of the two forms in Italy and elsewhere goes to 

 shew that they are really specifically distinct. 



While these remarks were being written I received from 

 my friend Count Arrigoni degli Oddi two Geese killed near 

 V enice. These have the yellow part of the bill more or less 

 extended on the sides towards the base, and both have a 

 narrow line of white feathers round the base of the bill, so 

 that apparently both belong to Anser arvensis ; but the 

 length of the bill is respectively 63 and 57 mm., and therefore 

 does not reach the average length attributed to A. arvensis, 

 but comes within the limits of the bill of A. segetum 

 Besides, the nail of the bill is not so short and broad as it 

 is described in the former species, and it is contained only 

 four times in the total length of the bill, so that in this 

 respect the bills of the two birds are intermediate between 

 the bill dimensions of those attributed by Mr. Alpheraky to 

 A. segetum and that of A. arvensis. I am still very puzzled 

 about the two birds being specifically different. 



Another Goose very imperfectly known, if really distinct 

 from the common Bean- Goose, is the one from Novaya 

 Zemlia which has been named Anser (Melanonyx) 

 carneirostris Buturlin, Dikie Gusi Ross. Imp. (Psov. i Ruzh. 

 Okh. 1901). This bird differs from the ordinary Bean-Goose 

 in having the light band round the bill dark flesh-colour, 

 instead of yellow-orange, while the legs and feet are of the 

 same yellow as in M. segetum. A similar bird has been 

 killed in Holland and is mentioned by Mr. Alpheraky, who 

 is not inclined to accept the specific value of M. carneirostris 

 and expresses his opinion that the peculiar colour of the bill 

 of M. segetum may depend on age, dimorphism, or individual 

 variation. 



I come now to Anser serrirostris Gould. I must notice, first, 



