PINK-FOOTED GOOSE 63 ' 



plentiful in Northumberland, East Yorkshire, especially in 

 the Humber district, and in parts of Norfolk. It is much 

 scarcer on the southern and western sides, yet considerable 

 numbers visited Lancashire in 1884 (Saunders). 



The Pink-footed Goose was first distinguished from the 

 Bean-Goose by M. Baillon, in 1833 (MacGillivray, Brit. 

 Birds, vol. i, p. 149). It was described and named by 

 Bartlett in 1838. Since that date this Goose has, from 

 time to time, been identified in the London and Provincial 

 markets. It occurs along the sea-board on both sides of 

 Scotland, visiting the Hebrides, though it is rare in the 

 Orkneys, and practically unknown in the Shetlands. It 

 has been obtained on one occasion in Ireland, viz., in the 

 co. Donegal about October 19th, 1891 (' Irish Naturalist,' 

 1892, p. 4, A. G. More). 



In 1872 the late Sir Victor Brooke identified in the 

 co. Meath, two Pink-footed Geese feeding in company with 

 a large flock of Bernacles and Grey Lags. He states that 

 " to an experienced eye the pink foot of this species is 

 easily distinguished on the ground." 



The Pink-footed Goose is not a bird with conspicuous 

 markings and so may be easily overlooked. It often 

 associates on the ground with Grey Lag-Geese and other 

 species ; indeed Sir K. Payne-Gallwey has shot it when 

 keeping company with Bean and White-fronted Geese. 



It is probable, however, that it keeps apart from the 

 other ' Grey ' Geese on migration, otherwise we should 

 expect that the Pink-footed Goose would have a wider 

 distribution over the British Isles. It has been stated that 

 this bird does not associate with its congeners in captivity, 

 yet in this state it is interesting to note that it has interbred 

 with other species, and hybrids have been raised. 



Flight. The flight resembles that of the preceding 

 species, from which it is difficult to distinguish this Goose 

 on the wing. 



Voice. The voice resembles that of other ' Grey ' 

 Geese ; Mr. Saunders considers that it is sharper in tone 

 than that of the Bean-Goose. 



Food. The Pink-footed Goose is graminivorous to a 

 great extent, and consumes large quantities of corn ; it 

 also eats grass and tender shoots. 



Nest. The nesting-sites of this species are not well 

 known. The eggs, four to six in number, are pure white. 

 Incubation usually takes place in June. 



