BRITISH BIRDS, 139 



Adult : head, nape and mantle greyish-brown ; rump 

 and outer portion of all the wing-coverts light bluish-grey ; 

 upper tail-coverts white ; throat and breast grey ; under 

 parts white, with dusky spots on the sides ; bill flesh- 

 coloured, with a white nail ; iris brown ; tarsi, toes and 

 webs flesh-colour ; claws blackish. Length 33*00. 

 Female : plumage similar ; length about 30*00. 



Much less common than formerly, and now only breed- 

 ing in the extreme north of Scotland and in the Hebrides ; 

 to the rest of Great Britain and to Ireland it is a winter 

 visitor only, although in the latter, a colony of semi- 

 domesticated birds has existed for many years on a lake at 

 Castlecoole, Co. Fermanagh. In Scotland nest is placed 

 on ground among heather, rushes, or rank grass, and is 

 lined with down from the bird's breast. Eggs : 5 to 8 ; 

 creamy-white ; size 3*45 by 2*35. 



204. Anser segetum (Gmel.). BEAN-GOOSE. 



Hab. Northern Palasarctic region. In winter migratory. 



Slightly smaller than the last, but more slender and with 

 a longer wing ; its appearance is considerably darker, and 

 the blue-grey of shoulders is absent ; bill is orange with 

 the base black and a black nail ; tarsi, toes and webs are 

 orange. A winter visitor to most parts of British Isles. 



205. Anser braehyrhynehus, Baillon. PINK- 

 FOOTED GOOSE. 



Hab. Arctic regions, breeding in Iceland, Spitsbergen, 

 and probably other areas. In winter migrating to 

 temperate Europe and Asia. 



Closely allied to the last, and like it the base, edges, 

 and nail of bill are black, but centre part is pink instead 

 of orange ; tarsi, toes, and webs also pink ; tail feathers 

 more broadly edged with white, and shoulder showing 



