THE GEESE, SWANS, AND DUCKS. 231 



chiefly in our eastern counties, though there are a few 

 still working in Ireland. The order is represented in 

 these islands by no less than forty -two birds, which 

 analyse as follows : four actual residents ; twenty - two 

 regular visitors (many staying to breed); sixteen irregu- 

 lar visitors.] 



i. THE GEESE. 



The Grey Lag Goose is a winter visitor to the greater 

 part of these islands, though still breeding in Sutherland 

 t Grey Lag and among the Outer Hebrides. In Ireland 

 Goose. ft breeds only in*a semi-domesticated state. 

 It is the largest of our geese, being usually regarded as 

 the progenitor of our tame birds, and has the general 

 plumage brown and grey, the under parts white, and 

 the terminal nail of the bill also white. As in all 

 geese, there is no difference in plumage between the 

 two sexes. I recollect on one occasion seeing three 

 flocks, numbering in all not far short of a thousand, as 

 I computed them roughly, flying south over the Baltic 

 in the dawn of a September morning. As I had no gun 

 with me, they were well within shot. The nest, ready 

 by the end of March, is placed on the ground ; and it is 

 of interest to note that the lining of her own down is 

 not added by the female bird until she is about to sit 

 on the full clutch of eggs. Eggs, 5 or 6, 3^ inches; 

 creamy yellow. 



The Bean Goose is not known to breed in these islands, 



but is a tolerably common visitor to the west and south- 



tBean west, comparatively rare on the east coast and 



Goose. j n Scotland, 1 but visiting the greater part of 



Ireland. It is a somewhat darker bird than the last, and 



the nail at the tip of the bill is black. Like most geese, 



it is a strict vegetarian. 



1 Muirhead (Birds of Berwickshire, ii. 72) enumerates nearly one 

 hundred farms in Berwickshire visited of late years by these birds. 



