THE TRUE GEESE. 22Q 



rump. The flesh-coloured bill and feet are also character- 

 istic. 



Range in Great Britain. Although formerly nesting in Lin- 

 colnshire, the breeding-places of this Goose are now confined 

 to Scotland, where it still rears its young in Ross, Caithness, 

 and Sutherland, as well as in the Hebrides, where it is still 

 abundant on some of the outer isles. It is not mentioned 

 by Mr. Ussher as a breeding-species in Ireland. In winter 

 the Grey Lag-Goose occurs in flocks in other localities in 

 Great Britain, but seldom on either the east or west coast of 

 England. 



Range outside the British Islands. To the southern counties of 

 Europe this species only comes as a winter visitor, but in 

 Russia, and locally in Central and Northern Europe, it is 

 generally distributed in summer. In Siberia its place is taken 

 by a nearly allied species, A. rubrirostris of Hodgson, which 

 winters in India and China. This, according to Count Sal- 

 vadori, is a somewhat larger bird, with heavier bill and feet, 

 and has more black on the under-parts poor characters for 

 separation, but from the series in the British Museum I am 

 able to say that they are fairly well marked. The bill is 

 said by Dr. Radde to be flesh-coloured, but with the base of 

 the upper mandible bright red, in the eastern form. 



Habits. Many people think that the name of "Grey-lag," 

 as it is generally written, is a vernacular corruption of " Grey- 

 leg," which, as the bird has flesh-coloured feet, would be a 

 misnomer ; but it is now recognised that the name should be 

 written Grey " Lag-Goose," indicating the goose that "lagged " 

 behind to breed in the fens of Lincolnshire in former times. 

 When unmolested, the present species feeds all day, retiring at 

 night-time to secluded places on the sea-shore, or wherever 

 it can rest without molestation. Its food consists of various 

 water-plants, grass, and grain, in pursuit of which it is to be 

 found on stubble-lands. The curious feature which is com- 

 mon to most Geese, of a very rapid moult, renders the birds 

 practically defenceless at this period of their existence, and 

 they then either hide themselves when inland, or take to the 

 water for protection from assault when they are no longer 

 able to fly. At other times they fly strongly and well, and 





