PINK-FOOTED GOOSE. 271 



more closely resembled the White-fronted than the Bean 

 Goose, although so like the latter in external appearance. 



The Pink-footed Goose, for the first notice of which, in 

 this country, we are indebted to the discrimination of Mr. 

 Bartlett, is considerably smaller in size than the Bean 

 Goose last described, but is otherwise so Hke it in general 

 appearance, that there can be no doubt it has frequently 

 been mistaken for the young bird of that species. On com- 

 parison it is at once distinguished by the smaller and shorter 

 beak, and the pink colour of the legs and feet ; but it may 

 be mentioned that, according to Mr. Cordeaux's experience, 

 the dimensions of the bill in some immature Bean Geese 

 little exceed those in the present species ; and again, some 

 true Pink-footed Geese kept in semi-captivity by Mr. Cecil 

 Smith, have produced broods in which one or more indi- 

 viduals occasionally showed orange in their bills and feet, 

 although in the rest of the brood those parts were of the 

 normal pink colour. 



Attention having been called to the distinguishing char- 

 acteristics of the species, it has since been recognized as 

 rivalHng the Bean Goose in its abundance during the colder 

 months of the year. Pink-footed Geese were observed to 

 be not uncommon in the London market during the winters 

 of 1838, 1839, and 1840; and in January of the year 1841, 

 the Author was informed by the Hon. and Rev. Thomas 

 Keppel of Warham Rectory, near Holkham, that a Pink- 

 footed Goose had been killed by his nephew, Lord Coke [the 

 present Earl of Leicester^, at Holkham. This bird was shot 

 out of a flock of about twenty, but nothing particular was 

 observed in their flight or habits. Subsequent observation 

 has shown that nearly all the Wild Geese which frequent 

 the Holkham and Burnham marshes are of this species ; 

 and so abundant are they in severe weather that 138 were 

 killed in the winter of 1860-61. To this species probably 

 belonged the flocks which Lubbock formerly spoke of as 

 Bean Geese. Mr. Dowell informed Mr. Stevenson that they 

 feed on the uplands by day in flocks of from one or two 

 to six or seven hundred ; and he has known as many as 



