138 BRITISH BIRDS, THEIR EGGS AND NESTS. 
to the absolute exclusion of many others of much interest and 
urgently demanding pictorial illustration, but, also, are charac- 
terised by so much sameness or general uniformity of colour ;— 
for they vary only, in that respect, about as much as the eggs of 
the common Fowl and common Duck do. A very large propor- 
tion of them, moreover, never by any chance breed in any por- 
tion of the British Islands, but resort to distant and very northerly 
localities for that purpose. The first on our list, the Common 
Grey, or Wild Goose, is an instance in point. It is believed once 
to have been a regular inhabitant, and to have bred abundantly 
in the fenny districts which then prevailed over many parts of 
the kingdom, not at all near or connected with what is yet called 
“the fen country.” But now it is comparatively a rare bird at 
any season of the year, and nests no nearer to us than some of 
the isles and coasts of Scandinavia. 
228. BEAN GOOSE—(Anser segetum). 
Like the last, and in common with the Geese next to be men- 
tioned, indiscriminately known by the name of Wild Goose. 
_ Unlike the last, however, it is ascertained to breed in small num- 
bers on some ‘of the large lakes in the north of Scotland, and in 
the islands of Lewis and Harris. Besides which, a nesting loca- 
lity of this species in Westmoreland is named. The nests, in 
some instances, are hid in very tall ling, and the eggs are from 
five to seven in number. In size they are a little under 34 inches 
long by 24 broad. 
929. PINK-FOOTED GOOSE—(Anser brachyrhyncus). 
A smaller bird than the last, but otherwise bearing a very 
strong resemblance to it; so much so, that it appears more than 
probable it has often been assumed to be a young or small speci- 
men of the former species. It is, however, of comparatively rare 
occurrence notwithstanding. 
