232 ALLEN'S NATURALIST'S LIBRARY. 



Nest. Described by Middendorf as placed on a grassy hillock, 

 in a hollow abundantly lined with down. Other observers state 

 that the American form makes sometimes only a depression in 

 the sand, or lines the nest with grasses and feathers as well as 

 down. 



Eggs. From five to seven in number, though as many as ten 

 have been found. They are dull yellowish-white. Axis, 3-0- 

 3-3 inches; diam., 2-0-2-2. 



III. THE BEAN-GOOSE. ANSER FABALIS. 



Anas fabalis. Lath. Gen. Syn. Suppl. i. p. 297 (1787). 



Anas segetum, Gm. S. N. i. p. 512 (1788). 



Anser segetum, Macg. Br. B. iv. p. 595 (1852) ; Dresser, B. Eur. 



vi.p.363,pl. 4 i2(i87 9 );B.O.U.ListBr.B.p.ii5(iS83); 



Saunders, ed. Yarr. Br. B. iv. p. 265 (1885); Seebohm, 



Br. B. iii. p. 493 (1885); Saunders, Man. p. 389 (1889) ; 



Lilford, Col. Fig. Br. B. part xxvi. (1893). 

 4nser /abatis^ Salvad. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. i. p. 100 (1895). 



Adult Male. General colour above brown, with whity-brown 

 edges to the feathers ; the lower back and rump dull slaty- 

 blackish ; the sides of the rump and upper tail-coverts white ; 

 the tail-feathers blackish, edged and tipped with white ; the 

 wirag-coverts dark slaty-grey, the inner ones, as well as the 

 median and greater coverts, brown, rather broadly edged with 

 white, like the inner secondaries ; the bastard-wing and primary- 

 coverts grey ; primaries black externally, grey for the most 

 part ; secondaries black, with broad white edges ; head and 

 neck brown, with a little trace of white at the base of the upper 

 mandible and along the base of the forehead ; the neck-feathers 

 soft and lanceolate ; under surface of body greyish-white ; 

 throat brown, and with a brown shade overspreading the fore- 

 neck ; the sides of the body mottled with ashy or dark brown 

 feathers, which are broadly edged with whity-brown ; thighs 

 ashy-brown ; under wing-coverts dark slaty-grey, the axillaries 

 more blackish ; bill black, with an orange band in the middle ; 

 nail black ; feet orange ; iris dark brown. Total length, 30-0 

 inches; culmen, 2-5; wing, 18*0; tail, 5-4; tarsus, 3-1. 



Adult Female. Similar to the male, but a little smaller. 



