74 INDIAN DUCKS 



The above is admittedly only a very rough key, but should suffice 

 to enable sportsmen to discriminate between their specimens, should 

 they be so fortunate as to obtain any of the rarer species. 



Considerable discussion has lieen carried on in the pages of the 

 ' Bombay Journal ' in regard to the Bean-Geese, between Alpheraky, 

 Buturlin, and Gates, and those who wish to study the question should 

 consult pp. 3S, .59s, and 950 of vol. xvii of that journal. 



Anser fabalis fabalis and Anser arvensls arvciisis if accepted are 

 probably western forms, hardly likely to be found within Indian 

 limits ; but as it is within the bounds of possibility that they will be 

 so found, I have included them in the key. 



A bracJii/rJu/iuJins may be at once distinguished from all other 

 Bean-Geese by its grey coverts, and although the first Pink-footed 

 Goose obtained by me was undoubtedly of this species, there is no 

 chance of its occurrence being anything but extremely rare in India, 

 and we should expect it in the N.W. rather than in the N.E. On the 

 other hand, there is not the slightest reason why serrhv.'^fris, ncglectus, 

 and sibiricus should not be frequently reported within our borders. 



Any sportsman who may obtain a iJean-C^oose, i.e., a goose with a 

 black nail to its 1)111, should at once forward the \vhole skin, if possible 

 — if not, the head and neck, — to the Bombay Natural History Society 

 for identification. He should note in detail the colouration of the bill 

 and feet immediately he gets it ; and if the colours of the former 

 change after death should note this also. The length of the wing 

 should also be added. 



