The White-Fronted Goose. 6i 



taken by Mr. Elwes, says : — " this is the common Grey Goose of Islay. It arrives 

 usually in the first week of October, and stays till the second week in April. On 

 their first arrival they keep a good deal about the lochs, and feed in the marshy 

 places around them ; but later in the year they go regularly to the stubble and 

 grass fields to feed, shewing a great partiality for particular fields. They go in 

 flocks of from three or four to one hundred or more, and are not very difi&cult of 

 approach to a good stalker when on the fields, as there is nearly always some 

 wall or ditch within shot of them. The old birds sometimes have the breast 

 entirely black, but usually the black is in irregular lines. Neither the White- 

 fronted, nor any of the Geese, except the Brent, settle on the water often, unless 

 driven to do so, as they seem to prefer the land." A fine adult male was got on 

 St. Kilda, in June, 1895, and presented by the Rev. H. A. Macpherson to the 

 Science and Art Museum, Edinburgh. Mr. St. John says : — " it is more easy to 

 approach than any other wild Goose ; and I have often found it feeding in small 

 hollows and spots easily got at, where the Bean Goose would never trust itself." 



Mr. Robert Warren says ("Zoologist," 1877, p. 322) in Ireland "very common 

 in suitable localities. I have seen them as early as the 29th September, and as 

 late as the 25th April, and have been told of their remaining up to May ist. All 

 through this winter several flocks pass over this place, twice daily, to and from 

 their feeding grounds. They generally rest by day on the wide expanse of flat 

 bog, lying at the foot of the Ox Mountains, County Sligo, and just before dusk 

 cross over into the County Mayo, to feed about Rarooyeen Lake, and the swampy 

 lands near MuUifarry. I have only twice seen them on the tidal part of the 

 river, but the great haunt for Geese is near Foxford, on the wide expanse of 

 marshes along the river Moy." In the south of Ireland it is only common, 

 according to Mr. Ussher, in severe frosts. 



Mr. G. H. Caton Haigh informs me {in litt : 25, iv, 96) that in Connemara 

 it is very common, and he is inclined to think the commonest Goose of that 

 district, and is found in much larger flocks than the Bean Goose ; he has often 

 seen fifty or sixty together. It is much less cautious than the Bean Goose, and 

 will alight in hollows, and amongst rocks, where the other would never be seen. 

 In North Wales it often appears in hard weather, frequenting the marshes and 

 saltings. Its habits and food are the same as in the Bean Goose; but he has 

 never known the two species consort when feeding in the same locality, and when 

 flushed the flocks keep apart. The legs and bill are bright orange, very different 

 from the pale yellow of the Bean Goose ; one specimen shot in Merionethshire 

 had the bill reddish flesh colour. Weight from 4^ to 6 lbs. In its summer 

 quarters it goes to a higher latitude than the Grey Lag or the Bean Goose. Dr. 



Vot. IV. L 



