Ue GHEY LAG-GOOSE. 
ee OO 
Anser cinereus, Jfeyer. 
—-~0-——-— 
Vernacular Names.—[Sona,* (Hindee) V. W. Provinces; Hans, Raj-hans, 
Kurria-sona, Upper India; Kallauk, ?; Kar-hans, Bhagulpore; Mogala, 
Mogala-buttuk, Mefal Terai ; Kangnai, Manipur ; Ghaz, Kashghar ; J 
— a 7) = — 
JHE Grey Lag-Goose is a cold-weather visitant to 
4 pretty well the whole of Continental India. I have 
notices of its occurrence in all suitable localities 
throughout Upper India, from Peshawer to Sadiya, 
and it extends southwards,f but in greatly dimi- 
nished numbers to about the 22° North Latitude. 
on South of this z¢ way extend as a straggler, but the 
lower course of the Nerbudda on the west, and the Subanreeka 
on the east, are the two very most southern points where I have 
as yet known this species to be killed. Eastward it is not 
uncommon in the neighbourhood of Calcutta, and has been 
occasionally seen east and south of this in the Sunderbans. It 
occurs in the Dacca{ District and right up the valley of the 
Brahmaputra to Sadiya, but I know hardly anything of its 
distribution south of the Garo, Khasi, and Naga Hills, and east 
of the Brahmaputra in Cachar, Chittagong, Tipperah, &c. 
Mr. Damant writes :—“ This bird is common in the Rungpore 
District on both banks of the Brahmaputra, and also in Mani- 
PP 
pur. 
* This name is often given as that of Axser indicus, but all the oldest and best 
skikarrees and falconers say that it is the Grey Goose that is the true ‘‘ Sona.” 
+ Writing from Eastern Sind Mr. Doig says :—‘‘ The Grey Lag appears about the 
end of October, and goes away again by the end of March and beginning of April. 
It is the only Goose I have seen in the Eastern Nara Districts, and principally 
confines itself to the larger tracts of swamps during the day. As evening approaches 
they go to feed in the rice fields or young wheat fields.” 
+ Mr. Cripps writes :— 
**In the Dacca District Ion one occasion came upon a huge flock of this 
species. It was on a large churon the ‘* Megna” river opposite Boyd Bazar. 
The river at that season (January) had fallen a great deal, leaving a good large 
sheet of water in the centre of the chur. Round the edges of this water was a 
strip of paddy, about 100 yards in breadth, which afforded concealment not only 
to the birds but toa sportsman. I managed to creep through it unobserved, and 
get a couple of shots; there were about 200 of A. cinereus and about 50 of 
A, indicus. I never again noticed the Grey Lag-Goose in that district.” 
