ANATIDsE. 117 



ORDER V. - NATATORES. 

 Family ANATID^E. 



BEAN GOOSE (Anser segetum). All the geese which 

 have occurred in these two counties were observed in 

 winter, and I am enabled to include in my catalogue 

 no less than eight species ; viz. the Grey-lag Goose, 

 the Bean Goose, the White-fronted Goose, the Ber- 

 nicle Goose, the Brent Goose, the Egyptian Goose, 

 the Spur-winged, and Canada Goose, a list of which 

 any inland county may well be proud. 



The Bean Goose not unfrequently occurs m hard 

 weather on the Thames, and is one of the commonest 

 of the wild geese which have been observed here. 

 Small flocks are occasionally seen in winter flying 

 high in air in the shape of the letter < placed hori- 

 zontally, and I believe that in the majority of cases 

 a near inspection would have proved these -to be 

 Bean Geese. Several of this species were seen and 

 killed in the vicinity of Windsor and Surley in the 

 hard season of 1866-67 > indeed, almost every winter 

 a few are shot in this neighbourhood. It is not rare 

 in cold weather, on the canal at Slapton, and has also 

 occurred at Chesham and other places. 



