302. THE COMPLETE WILDFOWLER 
BEAN GOOSE 
Anser segetum (Gmelzn) 
This species nests throughout Northern Europe and Asia. 
In Scotland, however, it is not so numerous as the other 
species. It inhabits the Northern Palzarctic region. In 
autumn it migrates to North-West Africa. 
This bird feeds inland on grain and vegetation. 
The bill is black, with an orange band across the centre 
and a black nail; the amount of orange on the bill varies, how- 
ever, in individuals, and several forms have been differentiated, 
though the matter requires further confirmation before being 
finally accepted. The amount of orange in the bill may also 
vary, in some cases, during the life of a single individual. 
Legs, orange yellow. There is no bluish grey on the shoulder 
of the wing, as in the Grey Lag and Pink-footed. Length 
from 30 to 34in.; wing Ig in. 
PINK-FOOTED GOOSE 
Anser brachyrhynchus (Baillon) 
On the east of England and Scotland this species is very 
numerous during the winter, but in the south of England it 
does not often occur, and its appearance in Ireland is not yet 
authenticated. It breeds in Northern Europe, and is ap- 
parently the only Grey Goose breeding on Spitzbergen. 
The bill is black, with pink across the centre and a black 
nail. Legs and feet also pink. This pink colour has some- 
times a yellowish tinge, and so cannot be accepted as a definite 
character on which to diagnose this species. The wing, how- 
ever, in the Pink-footed Goose is blue-grey, approaching that 
of the Grey Lag, and this, together with its smaller size, will 
distinguish it from the other species. Length from 28 to 
2g in. ; wing 17°5 in. 
