290 THE FOOD OF BIRDS IN INDIA. 



off an incredible amount of grain in a morning. H. M. G. B. 

 Ill, 57. 



Grass and green crops. F. I. IV, 417. If there are any 

 young crops of wheat in the district, the sportsman should be 

 out before daybreak, and he may then get within easy shot of 

 the birds as they feed on the young growth. Geese are almost 

 invariably vegetarians, and get their food by grazing, in which 

 way large flocks will do immense damage to young crops in a 

 single night. They are destructive birds also, owing to the fact 

 that they pull so much of what they feed on up by the roots and 

 thus destroy what they do not eat. S. B. I. D. A., 69. 



1580. Anser albifrons. White-fronted GOOBC. It is stated to 

 frequent marshes and rarely to visit cornfields. Jerd. B. I. Ill, 781. 



The specimens I killed had fed entirely on some species of wild 

 rice, and on tender green shoots of some grass or grain. H. M. G. 

 B. I. Ill, 75. 



1581. Anser erythropus. Dwarf, or Lesser White-fronted, 

 Goose. 



Food similar to that of other Geese grain and green shoots. 

 H. M. G. B. I. Ill, 78. 



1583. Anser indicus. Barred-headed Goose. It grazes on the 

 river banks and fields of corn, chenna, etc. Jerd. B. I. I, 783. 



As soon as the crops are cut and carried and the stubbles have 

 b^en pretty well gleaned, they disappear. They feed in fields, 

 browsing on the young wheat or waddling among the heavy clods 

 amidst which the gram grows, to devour the young shoots, or later 

 the ripening pods of this vetch. All vetches, lentils, grain, tender 

 grasses, and herbs, seem equally to suit their taste, and so long as 

 these are available they eat nothing else. H. M. G. B. I. Ill, 84. 



The usual habits, feeding on grass and crops of wheat, barley, 

 gram, etc. F. I. IV, 420. 



They are, of course, almost entirely vegetable feeders, and 

 it is wonderful what damage a flock can do to young crops even 

 in a single night ; and where they are numerous they take no 



