588 PH(ENICOPTERUSANSER 



Hob. Southern Europe, rarely straying to central Europe, 

 but has occurred at least four times in Great Britain ; Africa 

 south to the Cape ; Asia east to India, south to Ceylon ; is said 

 to have occurred once on the southern part of Lake Baikal. 



The Flamingo frequents the sea-coasts and the borders of 

 large fresh-water lakes, or of lagoons where the country is 

 open and devoid of trees or bushes, and is usually seen in vast 

 flocks wading in the shallow water, and working about in the 

 soft bottom in search of its food, which consists of minute 

 crustaceans, and it is said, also of vegetable matter. In its cry, 

 formation of flight, and structure, it most nearly resembles the 

 Goose, and it swims also with ease. It breeds in colonies, 

 making a small hillock of mud in the shallow water, varying 

 from a few inches to a couple of feet in height, larger at the 

 base, and tapering to the top, which is hollowed out cup- 

 shaped, and late in May it deposits 2 eggs, which are white 

 with a chalky surface, in size and shape resembling those of 

 Anser ferus, but more elongated, measuring from 3*34 by 2'05 

 to 3'48 by 2'20. When sitting the bird doubles its long legs 

 under its body. 



ANSER, Bris?., 1760. 

 820. GREYLAG-GOOSE. 



ANSER FERUS. 



Anser ferus, Schaeff. Mns. Orn. p. 67, No. 214 (1789) ; Gould, B. of E. v. 

 pi. 347 ; id. B. of Gt. Brit. v. pi. 1 ; Hewitson, ii. p. 382, pi. cvm\ 

 fig. 2 ; Salvador!, Cat. B. Br. Mas. xxvii. p. 89 ; Blanf. F. Brit. Ind, 

 Birds, iv. p. 416 ; A. cinereus, Meyer, Taschenb. ii. p. 552 (1810) ;. 

 Naum. xi. p. 229, Taf. 285 ; Dresser, vi. p. 355, pi. 411 ; Tacz. F. (X 

 Sib. 0. p. 1089 ; Saunders, p. 397 ; Lilford, vii. p. 55, pi. 20 ; 

 " A. rubrirostris, Hodgs." Gray, Cat. Hodgs. Coll. B. M. p. 144 

 (1846) ; Salvadori, torn. cit. p. 91. 



Oie cendrte, French ; Ganso, Portug. and Span. ; Oca selvatica, 

 Ital. ; Graugans, German ; Graauwe Gans, Dutch ; Graagaas, 

 Dan. and Norweg. ; Grdgds, Swed. ; Iso-hanhi, Finn. ; Seryi- 

 Gus, Russ. ; Sona, Hindu. 



ad. (Scotland). Head, neck, and upper parts ashy brown, a narrow line 

 of white on the forehead, the crown, back, and scapulars darker, the two 

 latter with light brown edgings ; primaries grey, with dark brown ends ; 

 secondaries dark brown ; central wing-coverts like the back, the rest ashy 

 bine-grey ; rump ashy grey, the sides and tail-coverts white ; tail ashy- 

 brown, tipped with white ; under parts dull white with a few black spots 

 on the belly ; the flanks ashy brown, tipped with ashy white ; bill and 



