THE GREY-LAG GOOSE. 311 



Still flights of them are not uncommon in many parts of 

 the country during the winter months, although they are 

 generally better seen in their arrival flights than when they 

 take their departure. They fly high, always during the day. 

 arrayed in the order that has been mentioned, and producing 

 a clangulous sort of gabble which is softened by the height 

 from which it is sent down, which on a long flight is not less 

 than 1500 or 2000 feet. The birds halt during the night ; 

 and seem (in winter at least) to be more intent upon resting 

 themselves than feeding, though when food suits them they 

 eat voraciously. They are generally arranged in line, and 

 with a sccut in their van, and on the appearance of danger 

 they betake themselves to the water, where they pass the 

 night. They use particular spots on the moors as caravan- 

 saries, or inns, on their pilgrimages. On their arrival in this 

 country, ano during their stay in the colder districts, these 

 birds are lean, and their flesh is rather hard and tough ; but 

 in the spring just before they take their departure, they are 

 in good conlition, and superior in flavour to tame geese. 

 The size vares considerably ; the length is more than two 

 feet and a half, the breadth five feet, and the weight about 

 ten pounds. 



The colours usually are, the bill and legs flesh-colour, the 

 nail and claw^ whitish, the irides grey, the head, neck, and 

 upper part generally grey, but the coverts edged with white, 

 the quills ed<:ed with the same and with black tips, the 

 secondaries wi:h more or less black, and tail dusky, with the 

 tip and margns white. The breast and belly white, more 

 or less clouded with pale grey, and the feathers on the neck 

 loose. In this species the closed wings do not reach the 

 extremity of iiie tail, and the bird is more heavy and less 

 given to migrate, and probably also a more southerly breeder 

 than the smaler species, which are better winged in pro- 

 portion to the.r weight. This species appears, indeed, to be 



