70 BRITISH BIRDS. WITH THEIR NESTS AND EGGS. 



the high wolds, this is not an intermittent falling off, more one year and less the 

 next, but a gradual annual decrease. Fifty years since, wild Geese were most 

 plentiful on the wolds, where they are now seldom seen, and now, in the 

 winter of 1896-7, they have practically altogether been absent from the hill 

 districts. 



Geese, on reaching their feeding grounds, whirl in wide circles over the 

 selected spot, and when satisfied that all is safe, sweep suddenly downwards with 

 considerable velocity, and commence feeding at once on alighting. 



When, through the depth of snow on the high wolds, food is not to be got, 

 Geese entirely change their habits, loafing about on the coast and sand-banks 

 during the day, and in the evening flying and dropping anywhere in the low 

 country, where they can get green food ; the snow seldom lies long in coast 

 districts, and there are always places which the winds have left bare, and the 

 ground is more or less uncovered. I have often seen their paddlings and droppings 

 in pasture, corn, and turnip fields, near the coast. If the neighbourhood is quiet 

 and retired, they come inland just as readily in the day-time as at night. 



Geese feed very greedily anywhere at the break up of a snow-storm, and they 

 are then least difficult to approach, being too much engrossed in eating to heed 

 slight indications of disturbance or interruption. The Pink-footed Geese when 

 associated with other species on a feeding ground, keep apart, and are not inclined 

 to be sociable. In the day they are visible on a hill side at a very considerable 

 distance, and if a yellow stubble, look like a blue cloud on the land. They are 

 also very conspicuous objects on the sands of the coast, lining the tide-edge in 

 long extended line, like a regiment on parade. 



In the dusk of evening, or at night, Geese are not so wide awake as in the 

 day, or they do not see so well, and I have sometimes walked into a flock to our 

 mutual astonishment. 



The European, or rather the western Palaearctic range of the Pink-footed 

 Goose is not very clearly defined. Messrs. Cocks and Chapman found this species 

 at each of the localities they landed at in Spitsbergen ; and Mr. Chapman found 

 three pairs, with goslings, at Magdalena Bay (July 29th) ; he found their droppings 

 and a quantity of long quill feathers strewn thickly about at the top of the debris, 

 under the precipitous cliffs, which doubtless indicated the site of their nests. They 

 were told that the Pink-footed Goose is quite capable of defending its young from 

 the Arctic foxes. ("Zoologist," 1882, p. 413). 



It nests also in Iceland, and probably on lands nearer the Pole. It is not 

 unlikely to be found nesting in Northern Norway and Finland. In winter it has 

 occurred in Northern India, but so far has not been recorded from China or 



