156 THE GEESE 



PINKFOOTED-GOOSE [Anser bmchyrhynchus Baillon. Grey-goose 

 (generic), black-nebs (Scotland). French, oie d bee court ; German, Kurz- 

 schndbelige Oans\. 



1. Description. The pinkfooted-goose may readily be distinguished by 

 its relatively short beak, wherein the nail and the upper part of the basal portion 

 are black, the rest pink, and the legs pink. The sexes are alike. (PL 152.) 

 Length 28 in. [711*0 mm.]. The male has the upper parts brown, the scapulars 

 and flank feathers broadly edged with light grey, major coverts slate-grey, broadly 

 tipped with white. Lesser wing-coverts ash-grey. The breast is rufous brown, 

 pale edges to the feathers giving a somewhat barred effect. Immature birds are 

 duller in coloration, and have less pink on the beak. The young in down grey, 

 [w. P. P.] 



2. Distribution. Another winter visitor, especially to our eastern coasts. 

 It breeds in considerable numbers in Spitsbergen, and almost certainly also in 

 Franz-Josef Land. Possibly a few breed also in N. Iceland. With regard to its 

 occurrence in Greenland, we have as yet no authentic record. Its winter quarters 

 are in North-western Europe, and its main resort is the British Isles ; but it has also 

 occurred in small numbers in Scandinavia, N. Germany, Holland, Belgium, and 

 France, possibly also in Spain and Portugal. Records of the occurrence of this 

 species in Southern Asia probably refer to Sushkin's goose, Anser neglectus. 

 [F. c. B. J.] 



3. Migration. A cold-weather visitor from the north, mainly to the east 

 coast of Great Britain. It is less known on the west side, although apparently 

 increasing in the Solway Firth, and there is as yet only one Irish record. It arrives 

 between 18th September and 18th October as a rule, but exceptionally as early as 

 24th August, and the time of its departure, varying to some extent from season 

 to season, is usually about the end of April (cf. Clarke, Studies in Bird Migration, 

 1912, vol. i. p. 159 ; and Nelson, B. of Yorks., 1907, p. 415). For habits see under 

 bean-goose. [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. Does not breed in the British Isles. [F. c. B. jr.] 



5. Food. Grain, and the tender blades of autumn-sown wheat, with marsh 

 and other grasses and aquatic vegetation. Le Roi found in the stomachs of old 

 birds shot in the breeding season, besides the usual small stones, remains of 

 vegetable food, including stalks, leaves, buds and roots of Cerastium Edmonstonii, 

 Saxifraga, Equisetum arvense, etc. Three young contained leaves and buds of 

 Salix reticulata, but no small stones, [w. p. p.] 



