BEAN GOOSE. 269 



coverts white ; tail-feathers ash-brown, broadly edged with 

 greyish-white ; neck in front, breast, and belly, dirty white ; 

 abdomen, vent, and under tail-coverts, pure white; legs, 

 toes, and membranes, orange ; the claws black. 



The whole length of an adult male is thirty-four inches. 

 From the carpal joint to the end of the wing nearly nineteen 

 inches; the second quill-feather the longest in the wing; the 

 wings when closed reaching considerably beyond the end of 

 the tail ; point of the wing with a prominent callous knob 

 hidden by the plumage. 



Young birds of the year are darker in the general colour of 

 their plumage, and the markings less distinct, but with a 

 tinge of tawny colour about the neck. 



Two or three young ones were produced in St. James's 

 Park by the union of a Bean Goose with a Pink-footed Goose, 

 next to be described. 



Wild Geese, when on the wing together for any distance, 

 are frequently observed to assume some particular figure. If 

 there are only three or four birds, they mostly fly in a straight 

 line one after the other ; when more numerous, they assume 

 a wedge-shaped form Hke the letter <i placed horizontally, 

 the angle in advance, the interval between the side lines 

 sometimes occupied. 



