154 On the Ornithology of Wilts \_Anatidce\. 



informed me that two or three fine specimens of this bird were 

 killed on the river Avon, by Mr. Ferris of Sutton Benger, in the 

 very severe winter of 1838, and doubtless it is still occasionally 

 met with in hard weather. It is to be distinguished from its con- 

 genera by the orange red colour of its beak, legs, and feet, the 

 nail of the beak being black. 



" Bean Goose." {Anser segetum.) This is so much more 

 common amongst us in these da5's, that it has now generally 

 usurped the title of its larger relative last described, and is known 

 as " the Wild Goose." Specimens occur in various parts of the 

 county almost every winter. The general colour of the beak is 

 black, the middle of it flesh red, and the nail at the extremity, 

 which resembles a bean (hence the trivial name of the bird), black : 

 the form of the beak is also shorter and stouter than is the case 

 with A. Ferns. These birds fly in flocks varying in form according 

 to their size, a little band always flying in a long line in Indian 

 file, while a large flock assumes a V like form, the sharp angle 

 being always forward, and one bird acting as leader and taking 

 the head of the party, while the rest form themselves into two 

 lines converging towards their guide : the same bird however does 

 not always keep its place at the van, but after a time falls into the 

 line, and another takes its post. This interesting manoeuvre was 

 first pointed out to me in Norfolk many years ago by the famous 

 Arctic voyager Captain Edward Parry, who in his prolonged 

 voyages in the Polar seas had unlimited opportunities of marking 

 the habits of the race of Anseres. 



" White-fronted Goose." (Anser albi/rons.) The Rev. George 

 Powell, Rector of Sutton Yeney, tells me that he has seen this 

 species in south "Wilts, and though I do not chance to have other 

 notices of its occurrence in the county, it is most probable that so 

 regular a winter visitor to our island frequently favours Wiltshire 

 with its presence. The specific name both in Latin and English, 

 describes its mark of distinction, in the white patch above the beak 

 extending to the forehead. It is also sometimes called the "laughing" 

 Goose, from its peculiar note supposed to resemble a man's laugh. 

 The beak is of a bright flesh colour, with the tail pure white. 



