Pink- footed Goose 89 



Very important is the assertion of several eminent English ornithologists that, when 

 breeding in captivity, some of the offspring of this species have yellow (orange) bills 

 and legs, while others of the same brood show the normal rosy flesh-colouring of the 

 wild birds. 



At present there are apparently no intergrading forms between such examples. Once it 

 is known that such occur, the question must naturally present itself : Are not pink-footed 

 geese met with in the wild state with yellow (orange) bills and feet ? This question, so far 

 as I know, has been answered only by Sir R. Payne-Gallwey, 1 who states that he has killed 

 pink-footed geese with bills and feet of the same orange colour as in the bean-goose. 2 Hence 

 the legs and feet are of the same rosy flesh-colour as the bill. Claws black. 



Accordingly, if there really occur in the wild state individuals with orange or yellow 

 bills and feet, then the specific characters of this goose must be sought in the size and form 

 of the bill, the ashy grey colouring of the wing-coverts, and the general dimensions of the 

 whole bird, which are considerably less than those of all the other representatives of the 

 group Melanonyx. 



Dimensions of Adult Gander 



Total length 650-708 mm. ( = 25.5-27.8 in.). 



Wing about ........ 400 mm. ( = 15.7 in.). 



Culmen 44-48 mm. (= 1. 73-1. 88 in.). 



Greatest visible depth of lower mandible laterally with 



shut bill ....... 5.7 mm. ( = 0.22 in.). 



Tarsus ......... 56 mm. ( = 2.20 in.). 



Number of teeth on each side of upper mandible, 20-22 (and, doubtful, 26). 

 Weight from 6\ to 7 \ English lbs. 



I do not think that these dimensions include the extremes, but I had too few skins 

 to judge. 



Adult Female 



On the whole, only less in size than the male. In winter (Degland and Gerbe) 

 neck and upper part of body somewhat lighter, and bill always shorter than in male. 

 From the fact that all geese are subject to considerable variations in the colouring of 

 the plumage, I merely note the above statement by Messrs. Degland and Gerbe, not 

 regarding such lighter winter colouring as a constant feature. In spring, again, according 

 to the same authors, the edgings of the feathers in this goose become rufous, and the head 

 acquires a bluish tint; but I have excellent grounds for believing that such variations 

 in the colouring have no connection with the season of the year, but are purely individual, 

 perhaps dependent on food. 



Younger Birds 



These differ from fully mature specimens mainly in the duller colouring of the 

 plumage and in the upper part of the body being browner than in the latter, while the wing- 

 coverts are far browner and not ashy grey. Bill almost black (in birds in first plumage), 

 with a very small amount of rose-red colouring on apical part. Feet, apparently, in first 



1 Letters to Young Shooters, 3rd Series, p. 69 (1896). 



2 A doubt involuntarily arises, whether this distinguished sportsman did not take small specimens of the bean-goose for large 

 specimens of the pink-footed goose. 



N 



