1 1 6 Geese of Europe and Asia 



probably occurs there only on migration, and even then in very limited numbers. The same, 

 probably, is the case with Finland. In the Novgorod Government, even if it be met with 

 on migration (on the Ilmen, for example), it occurs in any case in insignificant numbers 

 compared with the countless hosts of M. arvensis, I can indeed testify that the so-called 

 specimens of M. segetum brought from there proved to be young yellow-billed geese, with the 

 black prevailing over the yellow-orange on the bill, as is always the case in young birds (up 

 to 2-3 years) of M. arvensis. In the Moscow Government, according to Mr. F. K. Lorenz, 

 the present species is very rare as a migrant compared with other kinds. That it is found 

 in the Kharkov Government more frequently than M. arvensis, as stated by Mr. N. N. 

 Somov, I am compelled to doubt on strong grounds, as also the assertion of authors who 

 affirm that on the Middle Volga, in the Simbirsk and Kazan Governments, it occurs in 

 abundance on passage, predominating over the yellow-billed species. 



Although I have not sufficient data to absolutely refute such statements, I prefer to 

 await more precise information, and to see specimens from the spots where these geese are 

 supposed to occur in such numbers. 



We have already seen that the so-called M. segetum recorded by Mr. Khomyakov 

 from the Ryazan Government turned out to belong to M. arvensis, and the same result 

 followed, on examination, in the case of the Turkestan bean-geese in Severtsov's collection. 

 Accordingly, I have good grounds for regarding with distrust the statements of their 

 abundance on the Middle Volga, and in the Kharkov Government, and therefore believe 

 that in each case young dark-billed specimens of M. arvensis were taken for adults of 

 M. segetum. It must also be borne in mind as being quite possible that some of the 

 migrating bean-geese recorded, for example, from the Kama, actually belonged not to 

 this species, but to Sushkin's goose (M. neglectus), described by Dr. Sushkin, and 

 encountered by him in large numbers on passage in the Ufa Government. 



On the whole, then, from a careful study of the question, I conclude that, alike 

 in European Russia and in Western Europe, and (so far as can be judged at present) in 

 Western Siberia, the bean-goose is by far less numerous than the yellow-billed species. 



On migration, M. segetum reaches eastwards to Lake Baikal, as proved by two skins 

 from Kultuk ; but it must be inferred that it arrives there from breeding-grounds lying 

 to the west of the mouths of the Yenisei, as, starting from the Taimyr peninsula east- 

 wards, it is apparently everywhere replaced by the thick-billed variety (M. segetum 

 serrirostris), which is described later. That some of the geese breeding in the Far North 

 fly west or south-west, and others south-east, cannot be doubted ; and it is, probably, 

 the eastern migration-route of the bean-goose that passes near Lake Baikal. Where 

 M. segetum, when migrating this way, has to go to reach its winter haunts, is difficult 

 to say, but since it must be supposed that it winters in some part of China, it seems 

 probable that both the typical form and its Eastern representative, serrirostris, may there 

 winter together. 



I have not identified the typical M. segetum from East Siberia, although many 

 travellers write of its existence there in incredible numbers. Consequently, one of two 

 things must be the case: either all the bean-geese of East Siberia taken by travellers 

 for M. segetum belong to M. segetum serrirostris, or both kinds occur there together. 

 The latter alternative would, of course, be in favour of the specific distinctness of 

 M. serrirostris. 



On the other hand, if the typical bean-goose were really met with on passage and 



