262 ANATID^. 



shops of the Loudon poulterers from November till March, 

 and are in some request for the table as one of the best 

 among the different sorts of Wild Geese. They are not 

 known to remain to breed in any part of this country in their 

 natural wild state ; but in June, 1843, a pair in the Gardens 

 of the Zoological Society brought forth their brood from one 

 of the islands in the pond to which they are restricted, and 

 showed great anxiety for the safety of their young. The 

 egg is white, tinged with buff, and measures 2*85 by 1*9 in. 

 This species has also produced a brood by union with a 

 Bernacle Goose, and one of the hybrids was presented to the 

 Gardens in 1844 by Lord Derby. 



Large flocks of this species were seen in Cornwall and 

 Devonshire, during the winter of 1829-30, frequenting 

 turnip-fields ; and it has frequently been killed in Hamp- 

 shire, Sussex, Kent, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, and Norfolk ; 

 but in the latter county, according to Mr. Stevenson, it is 

 somewhat local. In Lincolnshire, and along the north-east 

 coast, it does not seem to occur in any great numbers, the 

 common species being the Bean Goose ; and on the east side 

 of Scotland it is uncommon, except in Elgin, near the Moray 

 Firth. At long intervals it visits Shetland in large flocks. 

 On the west side it occurs only sparingly in the Outer 

 Hebrides, but in Islay it is the commonest species of ' Grey ' 

 Goose, arriving, according to Mr. H. J. Elwes, early in 

 October, and remaining till the middle of April. It has 

 been observed from time to time along the west coast of 

 England, and in Wales ; but on the whole it is the most 

 locally distributed of the British species. 



To Ireland the White-fronted Goose is a regular winter 

 visitant, being especially abundant in the southern counties ; 

 and on the west and north-west it is considered by Mr. R. 

 Warren to be the commonest of the inland-feeding species. 

 During the severe winters of 1879-80, and 1880-81, large 

 numbers were observed, and a good many were shot, on the 

 open fields and inland waters. Sir R. Payne-Gallwey was 

 assured that during the unexampled bitter weather of January 

 1881, nine of these Geese pitched and fed ravenously on some 



