THE ZOOLOGIST 



No. 738.— December, 1902. 



ON A LOST BRITISH WILD GOOSE, ANSER 

 PALUDOSUS (Strickland). 



By F. Coburx. 

 (Plate III.) 



When investigating the specific validity of Anser gambeli 

 (ante, pp. 337) last winter, I resolved upon the overhauling of 

 my entire series of British Wild Geese, some fifty to sixty 

 mounted birds. 



Upon coming to the turn of Anser segetum, I for the first time 

 critically examined a bird which had always been a puzzle to me, 

 and which I procured from St. Abb's Head, Scotland, on the 25th 

 February, 1896. It was my intention at the time to fully examine 

 the curious characters of this bird, but through extreme pressure 

 of other business it was placed in a cabinet, and practically over- 

 looked until this year. Fortunately I did not depart from my 

 usual practice of making special notes on the colours of soft parts, 

 and taking weight and measurements. 



The characters of this bird which struck me most forcibly 

 were its great size, being as large and heavy as a very big Grey- 

 lag ; the enormously lengthened swan-like neck ; large and also 

 swan-like feet ; and the remarkably and distinctly shaped and 

 coloured bill. These convinced me that the bird could not be 

 A. segetum. 



Zooi. ±th ner. vol. IV., December, 1902. '2 m 



