26 BRITISH BIRDS. 



paratively broader at the point, and far more depressed 

 behind the nail of the upper mandible (than that of A. 

 segetum). At the same time the lower mandible in M. 

 arvensis is less curved and comparatively less depressed in 

 the thickest part (looking at the shut bill from the side) than 

 in M. segetum. The nail is considerably shorter, but at the 

 same time also broader and more rounded, both longitudinally 

 and transversely." The colours of the bills of the two birds 

 are also different, but they do not seem to form a safe guide 

 owing to their variability. We have quoted the above passage 

 at length because Mr. F. W. Frohawk affirms that this goose 

 is the usual form of the Bean- Goose to be found in this country, 

 and that the true A. segetum is rare (c/. Field, 1902, p. 605 ; 

 ZooL, 1903, p. 41). Mr. Einar Lonnberg in discussing the 

 question is inclined to think that variability accounts for the 

 differences, and that there are not two distinct species {ZooL, 

 1903, p. 164). 



Mr. Frohawk considers {ZooL, 1903, p. 42, etc.) that the 

 bird shot at St. Abb's Head on February 25th, 1896, and 

 described by Mr. F. Coburn at length in the " Zoologist " 

 (1902, pp. 441-448), as Anser paludosus of Strickland, is 

 referable to A. arvensis. Mr. Coburn laid stress on the great 

 length of the neck of the bird he described, but the specimen 

 being a stuffed one no reliance can be placed on this feature. 



The distribution of A. arvensis and A. segetum is in- 

 completely known, but according to M. Alpheraky A. arvensis 

 is far more numerous than A. segetum, and the " region of its 

 nidification is larger both in longitude and latitude." 



Another species of Bean-Goose, viz., the Anser neglectus 

 of Sushkin (c/. Ibis, 1897, p. 5) from Novaya Zemlia and 

 Kolguev, is suspected by M. Alpheraky {op. cit., p. 81), and 

 by Mr. Frohawk {Field, 1902, p. 1045) to occur in Great Britain. 



Many diverse opinions have been expressed as to the specific 

 differences of these Geese and their occurrence in this country, 

 and it appears to us that before a definite decision can be 

 reached more observations and examination of larger material 

 must be made. 



These birds undoubtedly vary greatly individually both in 

 size and coloration ; moreover, they are usually shot by 

 sportsmen rather than naturalists, and consequently it is 

 difficult to get together a good series with careful notes as to the 

 colouring of the soft parts, which has, perhaps unfortunately, 

 been used as a character for the separation of the species. 

 Thus a bird, which the editor declared to be a Pink-footed 

 Goose {Anser brachyrhyncus) , was sent to the " Field " from 

 Breconshire this year, and this specimen had yellow legs and 



