GREY-LEGGED GOOSE. 57 



in the Elbe at the latter end of August or the beginning of 

 September, remaining there until October, and then go fur- 

 ther south. 



Professor Nilsson, who resides in the south-eastern part of 

 Sweden, says, that a few pairs make their appearance there 

 towards the end of April. The males leave the fens Avhen 

 the females begin to sit, and collect in flocks near or on the 

 sea ; the females conduct their young when they are ready 

 to go. The eggs of this species are of a dull yellowish ivory 

 white, smooth and shining, measuring three inches one line 

 in length, by two inches and one line in breadth. 



This species is said to go as far as Iceland in summer, and 

 to most of the countries still farther north, but late observers 

 do not include them among the birds of the Arctic regions, 

 or of North America. The Grey-legged Goose is not com- 

 mon in Holland or France, but is said to be more abundant 

 in Germany, and the central portions of Europe. Said to 

 be found in Northern Asia, China, and Japan. 



The beak is of a pale flesh colour, the horny nail at the 

 extremity of each mandible white ; the ii-ides brown ; the 

 head, nape, back of the neck, and the upper part of the back, 

 ash-brown, the latter named part with lighter coloured edges ; 

 inner portion of the wings, scapulars, and tertials, lead-grey 

 with broad and lighter grey coloured margins ; the point of 

 the wing, both sets of upper wing-coverts, and all the feathers 

 on the primary portion of the wing, except the quill-feathers 

 beyond the first three, very light bluish-grey ; the three 

 outer quill-feathers also light grey ; the rest dark lead-grey, 

 all with white shafts ; the lower part of the back and the 

 rump uniform light bluish-grey ; upper tail-coverts white ; 

 tail-feathers lead-grey, tipped with white ; chin, neck in 

 front, and the breast, of a lighter grey colour than the back 

 of the neck ; the belly, and all the under surface of the body, 

 white ; sides, flanks, and thighs, barred with ash colour and 



