68 GREY LAG-GOOSE. 



ferent colour of the feet, its larger size, and some 

 other less conspicuous distinctions, is the 



GREY LAG-GOOSE,* ANSER FERUS. From the 

 species of British geese having heen so confounded, 

 the habits of the Grey-lag have been mixed up 

 with them; and though information that can be 

 relied on has been obtained in regard to the others, 

 we have no very authentic notice of the bird now 

 before us during the breeding time, or of its range 

 and migrations. From the testimony of various 

 writers, it appears to have been more common in 

 former days, lemaining even to breed ; but if the 

 latter fact can be relied upon, it has many years 

 since fled from the inroads of cultivation, and may 

 be considered as a bird of considerable rarity, 

 and so far as is at present ascertained, it is not 

 known to breed in any part of the British islands. 

 Mr. Yarrell states that it is equally rare in the 

 London markets, some winters passing without 

 any instances of the the bird being brought in. In 

 Ireland it is now also rare, though formerly con- 

 sidered to have been more abundant. In Central 

 and Southern Europe it is only partially known ; but 

 in the North, upon the authority of Mr. Dann, it 

 regularly breeds, and a few pairs at the same season 

 visit some parts of Sweden. It is neither, however, 



Ittey-tegged tfoose has been lately considered as the cor- 

 rect reading of this name ; as, however, long applied to it, we 

 Drefer the old provincial spelling. 





