364 BRITISH BIRDS. 



may be seen from October to April, especially during the period 

 of its migration. Like the former, it feeds on grass, roots, corn, 

 and other vegetation, puUing up and trampling down far more 

 than is devoured. The bean goose is, as its name implies, 

 especially fond of pulse; newly sown beans in spring often 

 suffer from its ravages. It breeds nowhere in England. In 

 Cornwall it is often very abundant, and perhaps in most dis- 

 tricts except the east coast it is one of the commonest geese. 



The Pink-footed Goose (A. hrachyrhynchm) is also very 

 abundant in parts of England during the winter months, 

 especially in the eastern counties, but in the south we seldom 

 see it. It is smaller than the bean goose. Like the bean goose, 

 it has a black nail and very similar beak ; but the white mark- 

 ings of the tail are much broader, and the wing-shoulder is 

 bluish-grey in colour. 



The White-fronted Goose {A. albifrons) is also abundant in 

 severe weather in the south and south-east of England. It is 

 smaller than the grey lag, but, like it, has a white naU at the 

 tip of the bill. The base of the mandibles and forehead are 

 white ; the back is brownish-grey ; breast and belly white, 

 with broad bands of black. Bill, legs, and toes orange. The 

 female is paler, and has much less black on the breast. It is 

 found in Syria, Egypt, &c., and with the grey lag has shared in 

 the origin of our domestic varieties. 



The Brent Goose (B&rnida hrenta) is the most abundant of 

 all British geese. It is found about the south and south-east 

 coasts all the winter, but seldom comes inland, feeding on the 

 mud-flats upon Crustacea, weeds, &c. 



Domestic Geese and their Origin. — The various varieties of 

 Geese are no doubt descended from the widely distributed grey 

 lag, which once bred in abundance in our country. The grey 

 lag has been known to cross readily with tame geese in prefer- 

 ence to any others. The white varieties are easily accounted 

 for by variation under domestication, and judicious selection and 

 breeding. The grey lag is very widely distributed, being found 



