72 THE PINK-FOOTED GOOSE. 
differs from that of the Bean Goose in being sharper in tone, 
the note being also more rapidly repeated. 
AS TOITS nidification, Dresser remarks: “Of its breeding habits 
but little, comparatively speaking, is known, and it is only 
known with certainty to breed in Iceland and Spitzbergen. 
Professor Malmgren, who obtained its eggs in the latter Island, 
says that it is exceedingly shy and wary. In the early summer 
it is to be seen in small flocks on moss-covered lowlands near 
the sea, or on rocky precipices, where there is vegetation here 
and there; but in the breeding season it is seen in pairs. When 
moulting, it frequents fresh-water swamps, and later on, when 
collected in flocks, it is to be met with near the coast. 
“Its nest is placed in prominent situations on high rocks, 
or platforms on steep cliffs, often close to a river, or in some grass- 
covered place, and sometimes on high cliffs close to the sea on 
the inner fiords. The nest is so situated that the bird can have 
an uninterrupted view from it of the country round, and can 
readily see if an intruder approaches or danger threatens. 
Hence it is difficult to shoot this shy bird even at its nest, for 
the gander is extremely watchful, and directly any one 
approaches warns his mate by uttering a clear whistling cry. In 
June the female lays four or five eggs, which are hatched about 
the roth to the 15th July, and both parents assist in taking care 
of the young. I possess a single egg of this Goose, obtained on 
the Swedish Expedition to Spitzbergen, which is pure white, 
resembling the egg of Axzser cinereus, but is rather smaller, and 
the grain of the shell is somewhat smoother.” 
UNFORTUNATELY I neither measured, nor preserved my speci- 
mens. After my large collections and Library had been destroyed 
in the Mutiny in 1857, I did not recommence collecting until 
1866. SolIcan only quote dimensions from European authors :— 
Length,-26 to 30 expanse, 58 to 62; wins, 15:5 to 75) 
tail; 5 to 6; tarsus, 2°3 to 2°55; bill from gape, 1:65) tomicane 
weight, old males, 6 lbs. ; females, 5 Ibs. ; young, 4°5 to 4°75 Ibs. 
Bill black or blackish at base and tip, including the nail ; the 
intermediate portions pink to bright carmine, and sometimes 
more or less orange. When this latter is the case the colouration 
approaches that of the true segetum, but the much smaller and 
conspicuously narrower bill of the present species would dis- 
tinguish it at any time. The legs and feet are fleshy to purplish 
pink, again at times with an orange tinge ; the claws blackish, 
paler at base; irides hazel. 
THE PLATE conveys, on the whole, a very fair idea of the species, 
but the banding about the base and sides of the neck and breast, 
instead of being so conspicuous as in the figure, is often little 
more than indicated. 
