AQUATIC FOWL. 145 



is yellowish brown, paler on the forepart, and on the back reddish 

 brown ; the upper part of the back, the breast, and flanks, pale 

 yellowish brown, minutely waved with a darker tint ; centre of 

 the breast and belly nearly white, with a patch of chesnut brown, 

 where these parts may be said to join; vent and under tail 

 coverts buff-orange ; the lower back, rump, upper tail coverts, 

 and tail, black ; wings, as far as the greater coverts, pure white, 

 the latter having a deep, black bar near their tip ; the scapu- 

 lars and tertials chesnut red, grayish brown on the inner webs ; 

 secondaries black at the tips, and, with the outer webs, brilliant, 

 varying green ; quills black ; carpal joint, with a prominent 

 tubercle. They become pugnacious at the breeding season; I 

 would advise, at that time, their separation from other water- 

 fowl. 



THE WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, 



Or laughing goose of some authors, is the nearest approach to 

 the gray-lag, and bean goose, and is a common winter visitant in 

 the British Islands. It is found more inland than the preceding, 

 feeding on young grains or grasses, and frequently found in tur- 

 nip fields. They inhabit both Europe and America; are not 

 shy ; appear in flocks of thirty or forty, and are considered deli- 

 cious eating. The principal distinguishing markings are the 

 forehead, or the base of the bill, yellowish white, separated from 

 the colour of the head by a darker line, which gradually shades 

 into it. The bill is pale, and the nail white. 



THE PINK-FOOTED GOOSE 



Is so like the preceding, that it has been confounded with them, 

 until Mr. Bartlet exhibited specimens to the London Zoological 

 Society, in 1839, and pointed out the distinctions between it and 

 the preceding species. Living specimens are at present in the 

 possession of both the Zoological and Ornithological Societies. 

 It has been shot in Ireland. 



THE BED-BEE ASTED GOOSE 



Is considered a rare variety "of the British geese. The principal 

 distinguishing characters are, list down back of the neck, chin, 

 throat, and band extending upward to the eye, black ; between 

 the bill and the eye is a large spot of white ; behind the eye, and 



