DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS. 229 



face (a narrow and varying line of white feathers 

 round the base of the bill), and broad black bars 

 across the belly. It is, perhaps, most abundant on 

 the Irish coasts, those of the south and south-west 

 of England coming next, whilst on the east coast 

 a region so famous for Wild Fowl it becomes rare. 

 In Scotland its principal resorts are in the Outer 

 Hebrides. The habits of all these " Gray " Geese 

 are very much alike. During winter the present 

 species is gregarious, and passes with great regu- 

 larity from the sand- banks, where it rests and 

 sleeps, to the more inland pastures where it feeds. 

 Its food, flight, and actions generally resemble those 

 of allied birds. The note is said to be more harsh 

 and cackling than that of the preceding species, 

 hence the name " Laughing Goose," applied in 

 many places to this bird. 



The White-fronted Goose breeds in the Arctic 

 regions, and was met with by Middendorff breeding 

 in great numbers on the Siberian tundras. The 

 nest was a mere hollow at the summit of a grassy 

 knoll, lined with down. The eggs, from five to 

 seven in number, are creamy-white. 



BEAN GOOSE. 



This species, the Anas segetum of Gmelin, and 

 the Anser segetum of modern ornithologists, is 

 locally distributed round the British coasts during 

 winter, but of more general occurrence on passage, 

 especially in autumn. The Bean Goose may be 



