360 



6 



earlier, and in Tsaidam about the 18th of February. At Koko-nor they were rather common in 

 the latter part of March ; and in the middle of October we also noticed several pairs on passage. 

 In the Hoang-ho valley the autumnal migration commences in the end of August; but in the 

 Kan-su we did not see it; for we only observed six water-birds there, one of which (Anser 

 indicus) remains to breed about the sources of the river Tetunga. 



" Their migration to the basin of Lake Hanka takes place in the middle of March, where 

 they also remain to breed, but are not very numerous in autumn, when all the other species of 

 Geese are abundant. 



" It is not so shy and wild as its congeners, and usually keeps in small flocks." According 

 to Mr. Swinhoe it is found near Shanghai in winter, but it has not been met with in Japan. 



Though somewhat heavier in general appearance and in its movements than the Bean and 

 White-fronted Geese, the Grey-lag Goose is a far more graceful and slighter-built bird than its 

 ally, the Domestic Goose, which it not a little resembles. It walks with ease, swims, and even 

 dives well, and is swift and strong on the wing. When rising into the air and when settling 

 it makes a good deal of noise with its wings ; and when a flock settles down in the late evening 

 this sound may be heard at a considerable distance. When traversing a short distance these 

 Geese fly low, usually within gunshot-range ; but when on passage they fly very high in a double 

 line like a V, with the point directed forwards, an old Gander being usually the leader. In 

 passing from one pond or sheet of water to another the Goose is said to fly first, the Gander 

 following her. 



This bird is very shy and cautious, and it is extremely difficult to approach within range of 

 it; for it frequents very open places where it can have an uninterrupted view for some distance, 

 and is exceedingly averse to allowing any thing strange, especially a human being, to come 

 near it ; but it will allow horses or cattle to come tolerably close, and may be stalked by walking 

 behind either of these. It feeds, like the tame Goose, on vegetable substances, especially on 

 tender shoots and young grass, and is fond of all sorts of grain, in search of which it visits the 

 grain-fields ; and it feeds chiefly at night, especially where it is subject to molestation, remaining 

 during the day either in concealment, or on large open tracts of ground where it can have an 

 uninterrupted view for some distance. 



As above stated, the present species breeds in the northern portions of Europe, and rarely 

 also in Central and even Southern Europe. The nest is placed on the ground, and is rather 

 loosely constructed of grass, dried flags, &c. &c., is tolerably well shaped ; but soon after the eggs 

 are deposited it becomes trampled down out of shape. It is without any true lining until the 

 eggs are deposited, when the female plucks down oft' her breast to cover the eggs, until her 

 breast is almost denuded of its soft covering. When the nest is well cushioned with down it is 

 a tolerably sure sign that incubation has commenced ; and as she sits she keeps continually 

 plucking and adding down to what is already there, so that towards the end of the incubation- 

 term there is much more clown there than previously. The eggs vary in number from six to 

 twelve, and are not rough in texture of shell, but dull and without gloss, dull yellowish white 

 in colour when fresh, with the faintest tinge of green. In early seasons the eggs are deposited 

 early in March ; but otherwise they are frequently not laid until May; and in Finland I generally 

 obtained them from the 1st to the 15th of June. Eggs in my collection vary in size from 



