GEEY LAG GOOSE. 



ANSER CINEREUS, Meyer. 



Anas anser, Linn. S. N. i. p. 197 (1766). 



Anser cinereus, Meyer, Taschenb. deutsch. Vogelk. ii. p. 552 



(1810); Nauru, xi. p. 229; Yarr. ed. 4, iv. p. 253; 



Dresser, vi. p. 355. 

 Anser ferus, Macg. iv. p. 589 ; Hewitson, ii. p. 382. 



Oie cendree, French ; Grau- Gans, German ; Ganso, Ganso 

 bravo, Oca, Spanish. 



This species, although the only one of its family that 

 is known to breed in a wild state in Great Britain, is 

 considered to be the rarest of the " Grev Geese" that 

 visit our Islands on their autumnal migration. My 

 own experience in this respect is limited to the fact 

 that most of the few strings of Wild Geese that pass 

 southwards along the valley of the Nene in August and 

 the first half of September are composed wholly or in 

 part of Grey-Lags. I am led to this conclusion by the 

 call-note of these early migrants, which at once distin- 

 guishes them from any other British Wild Goose, but 

 almost exactly resembles that of our domestic race, j 

 must, however, admit that these travellers never, or 

 very rarely, alight in our neighbourhood, and I there- 

 fore have not an opportunity of verifying my opinion by 



