WILD GEESE. 99 



CHAPTER VI. 



" Nay, I am for all waters." SHAKSPEARE. 



Various Species of Wild Geese Grey-lag and White-fronted 

 Distinguishing Characters Origin of the Domestic 

 Stock Bean Goose Pink-footed Goose Bernicle 

 Brent Goose Shieldrake Foreign Ducks and Geese 

 unadvisedly admitted into the British Fauna Prohable 

 Cause of the Error Ducks on the British Coasts 

 Diversity of Haunts, Habits, Food and Structure 

 Decoys Wild Fowl Shooting Young Water Fowl 

 devoured by Pike The * Bird-fly' Observation, 



THERE are about five or six species of wild 

 geese usually met with by the coast shooter in 

 the British islands ; one of the most uncommon 

 of which, if not the very rarest, is the grey lag 

 or grey legged goose (anser ferus), once called the 

 common wild goose, and supposed to be the 

 origin of our reclaimed bird. Yet there is good 

 reason for believing that a nearly allied species 

 of far more frequent occurrence, although bearing 

 a general resemblance in size, form and plumage 

 the white-fronted goose (anser albifrons) 

 has had nearly an equal share in founding the 



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