192 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



or Southern Tunisia, but this is not surprising, considering the 

 absence of any lake or large sheet of water likely to attract them. 



According to Loche and Taczanowski, A. anser occurs in winter 

 in Algeria, while Favier states that the species is as numerous as 

 A. fahalis near Tangier, arriving in Marocco in November and 

 December and going north again in March. Large numbers of this 

 Goose are to be met with in winter in South-west Spain, where the 

 species has occasionally been known to nest, though its true breeding- 

 quarters are further north. The Grey Lag-Goose is essentially 

 gregarious, and is rarely to be found otherwise than in large flocks. 

 It frequents open marshes, lakes, wet fields and plains, where its 

 food is obtainable, this consisting chiefly of grass, grain, seeds and 

 other vegetable njatter. It is extremely shy and wary, a good 

 swimmer and diver, and also powerful on the wing, though its flight 

 is at first rather heavy when it rises from the water. Like other 

 members of the family, when on migration or taking a long flight, 

 it assumes a wedge-shaped formation. Its note is a loud and clear 

 " honk." 



The derivation of the English term " lag," as applied to this 

 Goose is doubtful, some authorities maintaining that it refers to the 

 species lagging behind to breed in England, instead of going further 

 north for that purpose like its congeners, others asserting that it is 

 derived from either the word lake, or from hag or lea. 



ANSER FABALIS (Latham) 



BEAN-GOOSE. 



Anas fabalis, Lalli. Gen. Sijn. Suppl. i, p. 297 (1787). 



Anser fabalis, Salvadori, Cat. Birds Brit. Mas. xxvii, p. 99. 



Anser segetum, Malherbe, Cat. Rais. d'Ois. Alg. p. 22 (1846); Loche, 



Expl. Sci. Alg. Gis. ii, p. 356 (1867) ; Koenig, J. f. 0. 1888, p. 285 ; id. 



J.f. 0. 1893, p. 95. 



Description. — Adult male, winter, from Italy. 



Differs from A. anser in its more slender proportions, its rather darker 

 coloration, the absence of any dark marks on the abdomen, and the bluish- 

 grey on the wings, and in having the bill orange with black at the base and 

 on the nail, and the feet orange-yellow. 



