DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS. 229 
face (a narrow and varying line of white feathers 
round the base of the bill), and broad black bars 
across the belly. It is, perhaps, most abundant on 
the Irish coasts, those of the south and south-west 
of England coming next, whilst on the east coast— 
a region so famous for Wild Fowl—it becomes rare. 
In Scotland its principal resorts are in the Outer 
Hebrides. The habits of all these “Gray” Geese 
are very much alike. During winter the present 
species is gregarious, and passes with great regu- 
larity from the sand-banks, where it rests and 
sleeps, to the more inland pastures where it feeds. 
Its food, flight, and actions generally resemble those 
of allied birds. The note is said to be more harsh 
and cackling than that of the preceding species, 
hence the name “ Laughing Goose,” applied in 
many places to this bird. 
The White-fronted Goose breeds in the Arctic 
regions, and was met with by Middendorff breeding 
in great numbers on the Siberian tundras. The 
nest was a mere hollow at the summit of a grassy 
knoll, lined with down. The eggs, from five to 
_ seven in number, are creamy-white. 
BEAN GOOSE. 
This species, the Axas segetum of Gmelin, and 
the Axnser segetum of modern ornithologists, is 
locally distributed round the British coasts during 
winter, but of more general occurrence on passage, 
especially in autumn. The Bean Goose may be 
