PROCEEDINGS OF METROPOLITAN SOCIETIES. 295 



allied to the domestic breed, namely, the Grey Goose ( Anser cine- 

 reusj, the Bean Goose (A. segetumj, and the White-fronted Goose 

 (A. albifrons), all which were promiscuously sold in the markets 

 under the general name of " Wild Goose." The first of them was 

 stated to be the primitive stock of the domestic Goose, and to have 

 become of extremely rare occurrence in the British islands, although 

 it formerly bred plentifully in the fens. Until very recently, no spe- 

 cimen of it existed, that he could learn of, in any of the London 

 museums ; but aged examples of the Bean Goose, that had the ter- 

 minal nail (dertrum) of the bill white, were ticketed with its name. 

 It differed, however, in various particulars, which were pointed out, 

 and might always be at once told by the pale grey colour of the 

 rump, which in both the others is very dark brown. The Bean 

 Goose was mentioned as the ordinary Wild Goose of these islands, 

 which it annually visits in large flocks, frequenting upland pastures, 

 where neither of the others are ever seen. It was the only species 

 of the three brought to market during the continued severe weather 

 of last winter, when thousands of them were daily exposed for sale. 

 In ordinary winters, the White-fronted Goose is the most frequent 

 species in the markets. Thougb the Bean Goose had never previ- 

 ously been known to breed when domesticated, it was stated that two 

 females were then incubating on one of the islands of St. James's 

 Park, a fact the more interesting as they enjoyed the full use of their 

 wings. A paper on the Natural History of the Nightingale was next 

 read, after which the meeting adjourned. 



May 18th. — The Anniversary Meeting took place on this day. 

 The Report of the Council commenced by congratulating the mem- 

 bers on the position which the Society had already attained. The 

 number of subscribing members was stated to be 205 ; a number pro- 

 bably unprecedented in the first year of any other scientific society. 

 It proceeded to remark that it would be in the recollection of many, 

 and more especially of the original members of the Society, that 

 during the commencement of its operations in St. James's Park, great 

 injury was occasioned by the mischief and cruelty of the children and 

 other frequenters of the Park ; but the Council had the satisfaction 

 of reporting that a marked improvement in this respect might be ob- 

 served : and they are convinced that the gratuitous exhibition of living 

 birds will have a powerful effect in combating the childish propensity 

 to teaze and torture animals, and in substituting an intelligent interest 

 in the place of an ignorant and brutal cruelty. 



Little more than a nucleus of the museum and library had as yet 



