144 FAUNA OF SHROPSHIRE. 



Pink -footed Goose. A smaller bird than the last, and 



A. brachyrhyncus. occurs less frequently in Shropshire. 



Oct. Mar. One was obtained on the Tern in 1842, 



two seen (one shot), at Eyton, 1879, 



and one shot near Oswestry, February i8th, 1894. ** 



is worthy of note that in all geese the sexes are alike in 



plumage, while in most ducks they differ greatly. 



Egyptian Goose. This bird is often kept in a semi- 



Chenalopex (Egyptiacus. domesticated state on ornamental 



waters, so that there is some doubt 



whether it may be admitted to the list as a wild species. 



One was obtained near Shrewsbury, and another at 



Hatton, Shifnal, in the winter of 1878-9. In 1884 one 



was shot, out of three, on the pool at Halston, Oswestry, 



and in the same year one was observed by Mr. H. Gray, 



near Ludlow. 



Canada Goose. From time to time specimens of this fine 

 Bevnicla Canadensis. bird are seen in an apparently wild 

 state, as, for instance, on Bomere Pool, 

 in February, 1896, but it is so often kept in confinement 

 that these are almost certainly escaped birds. Mr. T. 

 Ruddy reports that large numbers of apparently wild 

 birds have resided of late years on a farm near Runcorn. 

 They are shy of strangers, but will come at the call of 

 the farmer, who feeds them. They go away often for 

 several days at a time, but always return. It is more 

 than likely that the Canada Geese seen in Shropshire 

 are individuals that have wandered from the head- 

 quarters at Runcorn, while out on one of these excur- 

 sions, for they do not stay at any one place for longer 

 than a day or two. Besides these casual wanderers, 



