ANSEEIFORMES. 



363 



rump and wing-coverts are bluish-grey. The legs are dull pink. 

 Length often nearly three feet. These geese arrive in the 

 autumn, and at once repair to the fields and marshes, where, 

 moving about in flocks, they trample down the young corn, 

 attack the turnips, and often do endless damage. The "grey lag" 

 is found all over Europe, in Northern Africa, and to the east as 



Fig. 188. — A, Head of Grey Lag Goose ; 

 (Nicholson.) 



Foot of Domestic Goose. 



far as Persia. There seems little doubt but that this species has 

 given rise to some of our domestic geese. It is uncommon 

 in the south of England and on the west coast. The "grey lag" 

 still breeds in Scotland, but in decreasing numbers. In the 

 latter place they incubate in April, when the ganders leave the 

 geese and collect together on pieces of water. 



The Bean Goose (A. segetum) is another common species. 

 The wings when folded are much longer than the body ; the 

 base of the orange bill is black and so is the nail ; the upper 

 plumage is ashy-grey, the under parts dusky and pure white, 

 and the legs orange. This goose also appears in large flocks. It 



