BEAN-GOOSE. 497 



of the Geese were in full moult and unable to fly, and both old and young 

 made for the water, attempting to conceal themselves by diving. 



It is a remarkable fact that the Bean-Goose will seldom breed in con- 

 finement. 



The western form of the Bean-Goose is rather less than the Grey Goose. 

 The sexes do not differ in colour. Adults have the upper parts brown, 

 suffused with grey on the wing-coverts, each feather on the mantle, scapulars, 

 innermost secondaries, and Aving-coverts having a greyish-white margin ; 

 primaries nearly black ; lower back and rump uniform dark brown ; upper 

 tail-coverts and sides of rump white ; quills and tail-feathers dark brown, 

 the latter margined with white. The underparts are white, shading into 

 brown on the throat, breast, under wing-coverts, and flanks. Bill orange, 

 with nearly black base and tip ; legs and feet orange-yellow ; irides hazel. 



Young in first plumage only difl'er from adults in being slightly paler in 

 colour, and are suflused with buft' on the head and neck. The nearest ally 

 of the Bean-Goose is the Pink-footed Goose ; no other British species has 

 the base of the bill and the nail 1)lack. 



ii' ' '"\ 



BEAN GOOSE. 



