WILD Goose. NATATORES. ANSER. 261 
GREY LAG WILD GOOSE. 
ANSER PALUSTRIS, Flem. 
PLATE XLI. 
Anser palustris, Flem. Br. Anim. 1. 126. sp. 195. ? 
Anas Anser (ferus) Gmel. Syst. 1. 510. sp. 9.—Zath. Ind. Ornith. 2. 841. 
sp. 26. 
Lie ceudrée ou Premiere, Temm. Man. d’Ornith. 2. 818. 
L’Oie ordinaire, Cuv. Reg. Anim. 1. 530. 
Wilde Gemeine Gans, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. 4. 842. 
Grey Lag Goose, Penn. Br. Zool. 2. 570. No. 266.—Arct. Zool. 2. 473.— 
Lath. Syn. 6. 459. 31.—Lewin’s Br. Birds, 6. pl. 238.— Mont. Orn. Dict. 
1. and Sup.—Bewick’s Br. Birds, ed. 1826. p. t. 282. 
Wild Goose, Shaw’s Zool. 12. 28. pl. 41. 
Common Wild Goose, Will. (Angl.) 358. 
From the concurrent testimony of our older writers, it ap- 
pears that this species was formerly very abundant in Bri- Periodical 
tain; and was also a permanent resident here, breeding an- pe 
nually in great numbers in the fens of Lincolnshire, and 
some of the adjoining counties. The draining and cultiva- 
tion of these marshy tracts, under progressive agricultural 
improvement, and the increasing population of the kingdom, 
has, however, banished these birds from their ancient haunts ; 
and they are now, comparatively speaking, of rare occur- 
rence, and, as far as I can ascertain, only met with in small 
flocks during the winter. They seem to have given place, 
as it were, to the next species (Anser segetum, Bean Goose). 
which, as a winter visitant, is very numerous, and widely 
spread throughout the country. According to TemMtncx, 
the present species seldom advances much beyond the fifty- 
third degree of north latitude; its geographical distribution 
extending over the central and eastern parts of Europe, 
Northern Asia, and some parts of Western Africa, where it 
inhabits the marshes, and the borders of lakes and inland 
seas. It breeds amongst the rushes and other coarse her- Nest, &. 
bage, making a large nest of vegetable matter, and laying 
