130 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE GOOSE 



greylag was numerous in parts of England, Norfolk 

 more especially ; but it is now rarely seen so far south 

 except during the prevalence of severe weather. In 

 certain districts of Scotland it is fairly numerous. 

 The bird breeds in Scotland and also, so we are told, 

 in one of the Irish counties, but not in England. 

 Long ago it nested freely in the fens of Lincolnshire 

 and Norfolk. 



Food : vegetable ; principally grass, grain, and 

 young corn. 



THE WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 



(Anser albifrons] 



The white-fronted goose has the bean white, and 

 the rest of the beak a pale pink. The legs and feet 

 are orange. This bird may also be distinguished 

 from the other grey geese by the forehead of pure 

 white, from which it takes its name. The white- 

 fronted goose is about 29 inches in length. The bird is 

 not often seen at any great distance from the sea ; its 

 habit is to feed by day on the marshes or other open 

 land near the coast, and to pass the night on the salt 

 water, or on the sandbanks or muds. The bird has 

 not been known to nest in our islands. The white- 

 fronted goose is at times fairly common in certain 



