SMALL GAME 99 



running fresh water. It is easily identified 

 by its long bill, which is black at the base 

 and tip and orange in the middle, and its 

 orange legs. Weight seven and a fourth to 

 eight and a half pounds. 



The Swan Goose (Anser cygnoides) is a 

 very large bird, and would seem to be the 

 stock whence the domestic geese of several 

 different countries have sprung. The 

 ganders of the reclaimed form are dis- 

 tinguished by the knob at the base of the 

 bill, but the evidence of many observers is 

 that this is not found in the wild race. 

 (Newton). The bill is black, and a con- 

 spicious dark stripe runs down the neck. 

 Moreover its neck is very swanlike. 



The Pacific Brent Goose (Anser nigricans) 

 is distinguished by having the bill, head, 

 neck, breast, feet and tail a sooty black ; on 

 each side of the neck there is a patch of 

 white with a few black feathers intermixed. 

 It is the smallest of all geese, and is 

 practically the "blackbird" of the anseres. 

 Doubtless it is to be found round the Islands 

 of the China coast, for it is a seabird 

 entirely, never flying inland. 



Unlike ducks, geese are of almost identical 

 colour in both sexes, and according to Sir 



