ANSER BHACHYBHYNCHUS 95 



to my identification having been correct, the notes on the wing- 

 colouration and the bill having been very full. 



Seebohm, ' Birds of the Japanese Empire,' pp. '236-'2o7, says ; — 



The Pink-Footed Goose was admitted to the Japanese fauna on 

 the authority of a female obtained in October at Hakodadi by 

 Captain Blakiston (Swinhoe, 'Ibis,' 1875, p. 456). Unfortunately 

 this example cannot be found, and some doubt attaches to the 

 correctness of the identification." 



He goes on to say : — 



It is possible that this may be an examj)le of a Pink-Fooled 

 Goose, but in the absence of the black base to the bill I am inclined 

 to regard it as the young in first plumage of the White-Fronted 

 Goose." 



I may note that the bill of the specimen in my collection, 

 which has had very rough usage from neglect, rats, and, finally, 

 earthquakes and heavy rain, is now of a uniform dirty grey-white, 

 the whole of the outer portions having been pounded off by the 

 heavy stones of a wall falling on it during the earthquake of 1897. 

 It would seem, therefore, that very little reliance can be placed on 

 the colouring of the bill in old specimens as a means to identification. 



Nidification. — As regards the breeding-habits, there seems to be 

 little on record beyond Dresser's notes ; he says : — ■ 



" Of its breeding-habits but little, comparatively speaking, is 

 known, and it is only known to breed with certainty in Iceland and 

 Spitzbergen. Professor Malmgren, who obtained its eggs in the 

 latter island, says that it is exceedingly wary and shy. In the early 

 summer it is to be seen in small flocks on moss-covered low lands 

 near the sea, or on rocky precipices, where there is vegetation here 

 and there ; but in the breeding-season it is seen in pairs. When 

 moulting, it frequents fresh-water swamps, and later on, when 

 collected in flocks, it is to be met with near the cost. 



" Its nest is placed in prominent situations on high rocks, or 

 platforms on steep cliffs, often close to a river, or in some grass- 

 covered place, and sometimes on high cliffs close to the sea on the 

 inner fjords. The nest is so situated that the birds can have unin- 

 terrupted views from it of the country round, and can readily see if 

 an intruder approaches or danger threatens. Hence it is diflicult to 

 shoot this shy bird, even at its nest, for the gander is cxtremelv' 

 watchful, and directly anyone approaches warns his mate by uttering 

 a clear whistling cry. In June the female lays four or five eggs 



