160 GRAY-LAG GOOSE. 



with the Knobbed, or Swan Goose, (Anser cygnoides;) twice with the Canada Goose; 

 and once with the Bernicle Goose. It has been stated that when a union takes place 

 between two different species of the genus Anser, both having light-coloured legs, or both 

 having black legs, the young are prolific; but when produced between two birds, one of 

 which has light-coloured legs, the other black legs, the young are not prolific." How far 

 this statement will be borne out by future observers, we are not prepared to say; but 

 similarity in the colour of the legs would seem to indicate closely allied species. 



The adult Gray-Lag Goose has the beak of a pink flesh-colour, the horny nail at the 

 extremity of each mandible white; the irides, brown; the head, nape, back of the neck, 

 and the upper part of the back, ash brown, the latter-named part with lighter-coloured 

 edges; inner portion of the wings, scapulars, and tertials, lead gray, with broad and 

 lighter gray-coloured margins. The point of the wing, both sets of upper wing coverts, 

 and all the feathers on the primary portion of the wing, except the quill feathers, beyond 

 the first three, very light bluish gray ; the three outer quill feathers also light gray ; the 

 rest dark lead gray — all with white shafts. The lower part of the back, and the rump, 

 uniform light bluish gray ; upper tail coverts, white ; tail feathers, lead gray, tipped with 

 white; chin, neck in front, and the breast, of a lighter gray colour than the back of 

 the neck; the belly, and all the under surface of the body, white; sides, flanks, and 

 thighs, barred with ash colour and grayish white; under tail coverts, and the under 

 surface of the tail feathers, white. Legs, toes, and membranes, dull flesh-colour; the 

 claws, black. 



Very old birds have irregular blackish markings over the lower part of the breast and 

 belly, according to Temminck and Mr. Thompson. 



The females are rather smaller than the males. 



The young birds differ only in having all the tints of a darker shade. 



Both sexes have a hard callous knob at the point of the wing. 



The length of the male is about thirty-five inches. The female measures but thirty 

 inches. 



We are indebted to Mr. D. Graham, the talented and trustworthy taxidermist of York, 

 for the specimen from which our plate is taken. 



