GREY LAG GOOSE 



227 



Grey Lag Goose. 

 Anser cinereus. 





Hr 



FIG. 75. GBKY LAO GOOSE. 



natural size. 



Head, neck, and upper parts greyish brown ; lower breast and 

 abdomen dull white with a few black spots ; bluish grey rump and 

 wing-coverts ; bill flesh-coloured, with a white nail at the tip ; legs 

 and feet flesh-coloured. Length, thirty-five inches. 



Eight species of geese are counted among British birds ; two of 

 these the snow-goose (Chen albatus) and the red-breasted goose 

 (Bernicla ruficollis) may be dismissed at once as rare stragglers 

 to the British Islands. The other six are all winter visitors to 

 our coasts, and are divisible into two natural groups the grey 

 geese (counting four species), all large birds, brownish grey in colour, 

 and feeders on land ; and the black, or dark-coloured geese (two 



