324 THE GAME BIEDS AND WILD FOWL 



difficulty. The stalker, instead of advancing directly towards the flock, should 

 approach in a sidelong manner as if about to pass them. The flight of the Grey 

 Lag Goose is rapid and powerful, and often very graceful, especially as a big 

 flock of birds survey the ground previous to alighting. When satisfied that all 

 is safe the birds often descend with great velocity, circling and turning, and 

 alighting on the earth almost directly below them. The call-note of this Goose 

 is a loud, far-sounding gag-gay, which is uttered not only when the birds are 

 migrating, but when they are congregated on the ground, or just after they are 

 disturbed. The din of gag-ing sounds, and the rattle of wings as a big flock 

 struggle into the air after being fired at, is almost deafening. This note is 

 variously modulated during sexual excitement or surprise. The food of the Grey 

 Lag Goose consists largely of grass and the tender shoots of growing corn. 

 Grain of all kinds is also eaten, both on the stubbles and the newly-sown fields, 

 whilst buds and leaves and roots of various aquatic plants are sought. 



Nidification The Grey Lag Goose is an early breeder; in southern 



localities the eggs are laid late in March or early in April, but further north they 

 are from three to five weeks later. This Goose pairs for life, as probably all 

 other of its congeners do, and during the breeding season is more or less gregarious, 

 numbers of nests often being made in a comparatively small area. The breeding 

 grounds of this bird are wild moors and swamps. The nest is made on the 

 ground, amongst tall heather or the rank, coarse vegetation of the swamps, and 

 is a huge structure sometimes more than a foot in height and three feet in 

 diameter. The materials of which it is composed vary a good deal according to 

 locality — branches of dead heath, rushes, reeds, dry grass, bracken, leaves and 

 turf, lined, as incubation progresses, more and more thickly with down and 

 feathers plucked from the breast of the female. The eggs are six or eight in 

 number, but in rare instances it is said twelve or fourteen have been found. 

 They are creamy-white, and exhibit little or no gloss. They are oval in form, 

 and measure on an average 3"45 inches in length by 2"35 inches in breadth. 

 Incubation is performed by the female, and lasts twenty-eight days. The male 

 keeps close in the neighbourhood of the nest, ready to warn his mate or to fight 

 fiercely if the eggs are threatened by any marauding bird or beast. One brood 

 only is reared in the year, and as soon as the young are sufficiently fledged a 

 move to the sea is usually made. The young are said to return at night and 

 sleep in the nest for some time, covered by the wings of the female. Flocks of 

 immature, non-breeding birds may often be observed in the neighbourhood of the 

 breeding grounds, waiting until the young are reared, when they flock with the 

 rest for the winter. 



Diagnostic characters — Anser, with the rump and wing coverts slate- 

 grey, with the bill flesh-coloured, the nail white, and with the legs and feet flesh- 

 coloured. Length, 36 inches (male) ; 30 inches (female). 



