Order ANSERES. 



Family ANATIDiE. 



THE GREY-LAG GOOSE. 



Anser cinereus, Meyer. 

 Plate 43. 



The Grey-Lag Goose, from which species our domestic bird is said to be 

 derived, is the only resident wild Goose in the British Islands. Until about the 

 beginning of last century it still bred in the English fens, but at the present time 

 it is only known to nest in parts of north and north-western Scotland, viz. in the 

 counties of Ross, Caithness and Sutherland, and on the Outer and some of the 

 Inner Hebrides. 



During winter its numbers are increased by immigrants, when it is more 

 generally spread over the country, although always scarce on the east coast of 

 Scotland. 



It is now only a rather rare winter visitor to England, occurring more fre- 

 quently in the southern and western parts than in the eastern counties, and the 

 same may be said as regards Ireland. The Grey-Lag Goose breeds in Iceland 

 and in various portions of the Continent of Europe from Scandinavia to Spain, 

 ranging eastwards in Asia through Siberia as far as Kamchatka. In winter it is 

 common in Southern Europe, North Africa, and parts of India. The Grey-Lag is 

 the largest of the British wild Geese, the word lag, according to Professor Skeat 

 (Ibis, 1870, p. 301), signifying late, last, or slow, which came to be applied to this 

 bird because it lagged behind and nested in our fens when the other species left 

 for their breeding stations in the far north. Professor Newton in his Dictionary 

 of Birds quotes an interesting fact mentioned by Mr. Rowley {Orn., Miscell. iii. 

 p. 213), that to this day the tame Geese of Lincolnshire are urged on by their 

 drivers with the cry of " Lag 'em, Lag 'em." 



The nest, which is placed on the ground among grass and heather, is built of 

 sticks, dead reeds and sedges, and the eggs, protected by down from the breast 

 of the female, are dull creamy-white in colour. 



Mr. Talbot Clifton has very kindly supplied me with some notes on the Grey- 



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