ANATID^. 207 



[Pink-footed Goose. Anser hrachyrhynchus, Baillon. 



This species is of doubtful occurrence in Devonshire. ]\Ir. Henry 

 Nicholls says he saw three or four examples hanging up in a poulterer's 

 shop in Kingsbridge many winters ago. They were shot on the estuary 

 there (E. A. S. E., MS. Notes). A specimen mentioned by Bolitho, of 

 Plymouth, in his MS. Notes, as having been received by him on 15th 

 November, 1860, was supposed by Mr. Gatcombe to have been sent from 

 Cambridge by Mr. R. A. Julian. The Pink-footed Goose in Mr. J. 

 Urooking-Rowe's collection was obtained iu Leadenhall Market.] 



White-fronted Goose. Anser alhifrons (Scop.). 



[Laughing Goose : North Devon.'] 



A winter visitor, generally in severe weather, when it has sometimes 

 been rather plentiful, both inland and on the estuaries. 



The AVhite-fronted or Laughing Goose used to be a regular winter 

 visitor to North Devon, where it was more often seen than obtained, 

 these wary birds being always on the watch, moving in the daytime from 

 one ground to another, and passing overhead in " gaggles" of twenty to 

 thirty in number, flying in V formation, with the point of the V forwards, 

 and uttering their singular " laughing " cackle. Many a time have they 

 thus passed over us in old daj'S when we have been Sniping in Braunton 

 Marsh and Braunton Burrows. It is only in very severe weather that it 

 is possible to get a shot at them. Several were killed near the Taw, and 

 brought to the Barnstaple bird-stuffcr, during the very hard winter of 

 18U0-91 : and others have been obtained at various dates in by-gone 

 years. We have also seen White-fronted Geese at Weston-super-Mare, 

 and have noted some very fine examples hanging up in the gamedealer's 

 shop which had been shot on the level near that town. One winter we 

 several times saw a small flock flying low over the houses, and one day 

 this flock passed close over our head while we were walking on the 

 esplanade. There had been a long-continued black frost binding the 

 ground with its iron bands, and these poor Geese were, doubtless, half- 

 starved. 



Great numbers were sliot near Plymouth in January 1830 (E. M., Trans. Plyin. Inst. 

 18;j(), p. 342). Some were obtained at riymoutli in I.S.'ko (J. G.) and l.SIU '(B., MS. 

 Kotes) ; one was killed on tlie down near Calstock, October 2(Jlli, 1877; some wcro 

 brought into Plvmouth Market, October 18S() ; and a young one was seen tlicro 

 Uec'-mber 7tli, 1882 (J. G., Zool. 1878, j). 2V» ; 1881, p. .'>! ; 188;{, p. IWl). 



At Kingsbridge Mr. E. A. S. Elliot sliot ono out of a flock i;h).so to the estuary at 

 Ger.slon, Defomber 24tii, 187*^. A (luck of twenty-five visited the district about 

 C'iirislmas 181)1). Tiiey roosted sometimes in a farmyard at liickham, and somctiuies 

 on Ciiarleston Marsh ; and some were sliot (lO. A. S. 10.). 



A floik of ten was seen on tiie Exe, January 22iid, I.S4I (E. W. L. "R., MS. Journal, 

 iii. p. 40). Several occurred on th:it river at the end of l84(i (VV. K. S., Zool. |). 2.">S4). 

 There were many on the Exe estuary iu 18.1)0, and wo saw many again iu January and 



