ANATIDA, 397 
THE GREY LAG-GOOSE. 
ANSER CINEREUS, Meyer. 
This species is generally supposed to be the principal source from 
which our domestic race has sprung, and, according to Prof. Skeat, 
the trivial name indicates that it is the species of ‘Grey’ Goose which 
in former days /agged behind to breed in our fens, when its congeners 
had betaken themselves to more northerly regions; Mr. Harting, 
however, suggests that “lag” is derived from “leag” or “lea,” and 
means “field-” (goose) as distinctive from the “rut-” or root-eating 
species, such as the Brent. Nestlings were taken in the Cambridge- 
shire fens up to 1773, and breeding continued in Lincolnshire up to 
the early part of this century; but this species is now rare along the east 
coast, while of very irregular occurrence in the south and west, even 
in winter. Even in the Solway district and throughout the greater 
part of Scotland it is seldom met with ; but it still breeds, though in 
rapidly decreasing numbers, in Ross, Caithness, Sutherland, and, 
more abundantly, in the Hebrides, especially on the outer islands ; 
being the only kind of Wild Goose which nests in Scotland. 
To the Orkneys and Shetlands it is only an accidental visitor. In 
Ireland, a colony of semi-domesticated birds has for many years 
been resident on the lake at Castle Coole (Lord Belmore’s), and 
from autumn till late spring some numbers are to be found, chiefly 
