44 ANATID/E. 



ford.^ January and February are the months (according to 

 my notes) in which the white-fronted goose has chiefly been 

 procui'cd. 



Audubon gives, from personal observation, a pleasing account 

 of this species, vol. iii. p. 568. 



M. Duval- Jouve, in an interesting paper on the 'Migratory 

 Birds of Provence/ published in the 'Zoologist^ for October 

 1845, remarks that the "Grey- legged goose. Anas anser, passes 

 in March and April, and re-passes from the first cold of autumn 

 until the beginning of winter : it only rests here when the weather 

 is very cold. Bean goose, Anas segetum, passes at the same 

 periods as the preceding species, but is more rare. White- 

 fronted goose. Anas alhifrons, passes with the two preceding, but 

 is more rare than either" (p. 1130). 



GiiEY Lag Goose. — Since the matter on this species was printed 

 off, the following note was obtained, which it is considered better 

 to bring in here than reserve for the appendix. 



March 1850. — Some of these birds were introduced to a lake 

 at Castle Coole, the seat of the Earl of Belmore, in the county of 

 Fermanagh, by Colonel Corry, about one hundred and twenty 

 years ago, and by their breeding there annually since, the stock 

 has been kept up. They build — with straw which is supplied to 

 them — on an island in the lake, where there are usually from 

 sixteen to tw^enty nests, but not more than ten pair usually 

 hatch ; — three birds have sometimes laid eggs in one nest. These 

 geese have always kept entirely by themselves, and never bred 

 with the tame goose or any other species. The flock has some- 

 times numbered from ninety to one hundred individuals, but has 

 been decreasing of late years, and at present contains only twenty- 

 four. The diminution has arisen from their being shot outside 

 the demesne, particularly during the late year of the famine, and 

 from less care being bestowed on them, as to feeding, &c., than 

 formerly. Some of the young are annually devoured by pike, 



* Dr. K. J. Burkilt. 



