80 SPOONBILL GOOSE. 



Nest. March or April. 



Site. On the ground in a reed-bed or swamp. 



Materials. Sticks, reeds, and rushes. 



Eggs. Four. Uniform olive-brown or green. 



Family PLATALEID^E. 

 SPOONBILL (Platalea leucorodia). 



Once a breeding species, now only a rare straggler. Distinct 

 on account of its white plumage and curious spatulated bill. 



OKDEK ANSERES. 



Family ANATID^E. 

 GBEY-LAG GOOSE (Amer cinereus). 



Once a resident and breeding in East Anglia, now a winter 

 visitor. It still remains to breed in decreasing numbers in the 

 north of Scotland. 



Haunts. Marshes and waste lands near the sea. 



Plumage. Head, neck, and upper parts greyish brown ; 

 rump and wing-coverts bluish grey; under parts dull white 

 with a few dusky spots. Bill flesh-coloured ; nail white. Legs 

 flesh-coloured. Length 35 in. Female similar, but smaller. 

 Young darker, and no dusky spots on under parts. 



Language. A gaggle, much like the farmyard Goose. 



Habits. Gregarious. Flight rapid and powerful, with the 

 neck outstretched; the flock usually flies in wedge-form. 

 Always very shy and wary. Like all the members of this 

 order, it is a good swimmer. 



Food. Largely graminivorous. Grain in winter. 



Nest. April. One brood. 



Site. On the ground, amongst heather or grass. 



Materials. Sticks, reeds, grass, and moss. Eggs buried in 

 down from the female's breast. 



Eggs. Six to eight or more. Dull yellowish or creamy 

 white. 



WHITE-FBONTED GOOSE (Anser alUfrons). 



A winter visitor. Local, but found in suitable localities. 

 More abundant in Ireland. 



Haunts. Fenny districts and the like. 



Plumage. The most distinguishing feature is the prominent 

 white forehead. Under parts more marked with black than in 



