Bean-Goose 1 1 1 



"Vestnik Yest. Nauk," pp. 532, 629 (1855); Radde (partim), Bull. Soc. Mosc, 1854, Hi. p. 

 160; Palmen, Cab. *J. f. Orn., 1876, p. 53 ; Brauner, Kratk. Opred. Dichi Stepn. pol., pt. i. p. 99 

 (1897); Ruzsky, Sistem. sp. ptits Kazan, gub. (" Trudy O. Ye. pri Kazan, un." xxv. pt. 6, p. 116) 

 (1893); Shatilov, " Izvest. Ob. L. Yest.," x. 2, pp. 82, 94 (1874) (partimT) ; Sabaneev, Prolet gusei, 

 "Zhurn. Imp. Obshch. Okh.," 1874 (partim) ; id., Zveri Prom. Uralsk, gor. ; " Beseda," 1872, No. vi. 

 pp. 106-107 (partim); id., "Bull. Soc. Nat. Mosc.," 1871, ii. ; id., Ukazatel, pp. 455-458 (1883); 

 Frohawk, Field, Oct. 4, 1902, p. 605 {rostrum)', id., Zoologist, No. 740, p. 41, pi. 1 1 (Feb. 1903). 



Adult Birds 



In plumage this goose hardly differs from the yellow-billed species, although the 

 whole colouring is generally somewhat darker. Head and neck brown-grey, of various 

 shades in different individuals. Back of neck and breast grey with lighter edgings to feathers ; 

 under-parts becoming gradually lighter, and passing behind into white. Flanks brown with 

 white edgings to feathers. Vent and under tail-coverts white. Back and scapulars dark 

 brown with brownish white edgings to feathers, which in old individuals become lighter or 

 even whitish. Rump black-brown ; upper wing-coverts white. Tail-feathers brown with 

 broad white edgings and tips. Greater and median wing-coverts black-brown with whitish 

 edgings ; lesser wing-coverts uniform brown-grey. 



Flight-feathers blackish brown, but, as in all geese, with white shafts, except at the 

 tips, which are dark. 



Upper edge of wing and whole of under-side, as also axillaries, very dark slate-grey. 

 Tail-feathers 18 to 20, according to Naumann, although I have never counted over 18. Female 

 generally somewhat smaller and more slenderly built than male. 



Although the majority of authors state that at the base of the upper mandible, that is, 

 on the forehead and at the sides of the head, in this goose, there is a white area, I must say 

 I never saw it in any example. The most I have noticed is a whitish indefinite patch 

 on the apex of the forehead ; but I have never seen anything in the bean-goose like the 

 white feathering on these parts in the yellow-billed species, and much doubt whether the 

 white ever has any considerable development there in the former. On the other hand, I 

 admit that sometimes adults may have a white patch on the feathering of the mental angle, 

 since I have seen young birds in a collection from Kolguev with white on the chin. 



Legs and feet yellow-orange of varying intensity, with black claws ; outer claw some- 

 times very light or even white (probably an individual variation). 



The main distinguishing features of the bill of this species are discussed later. 



Goslings 



Edgings of feathers on upper surface of body and flanks show a decided rufous tint. 

 Not a trace of white plumules at base of upper mandible, but on feathering of mental angle 

 there sometimes occurs a white patch, in rare cases occupying even the whole angle. Feet 

 rather yellow than orange. 



Young Birds in First Plumage 



Head and neck dark earthy grey; throat somewhat lighter; upper breast earthy 

 grey ; the rows of plumules, separated by furrows on sides of neck, have light tips which, as 

 Naumann thinks, are due to remains of down not quite broken off. 



Breast with whitish edgings to feathers ; under-parts light grey. Flanks, upper part 

 of back and shoulders earthy grey, passing towards tip of feathers, beyond brownish white 



