the neighbourhood of Lilford in former years, during 

 the winter mouths. Of late years, although a good 

 many wild Geese pass along our valley between October 

 and April, very few alight in our neighbourhood, and 

 none make any permanent stay with us, as they were 

 wont to do before 1860. I have been frequently 

 assured that on certain pasture-lands near Gretton, in 

 Northamptonshire, boys were regularly employed to 

 scare the wild Geese, on account of the damage done to 

 the grass, not only by the voracity, but also by the 

 excrement of the birds. I know nothing, except from 

 others, of the habits of this species on our coasts, but 

 here, in Northamptonshire, the flocks used to remain in 

 the most open parts of our water-meadows during the 

 daytime, and wander about on wing with loud outcry 

 as darkness or moonlight came on ; they did certainly 

 occasionally visit our stubbles by night, but I only 

 remember one instance of having noticed them on arable 

 land during the hours of daylight. I must, however, 

 confess that these remarks may apply equally to the 

 Bean-Goose, as that species used also to occur in our 

 neighbourhood, and so closely resembles the Pink-footed 

 in habits, general appearance, and cry, that it was 

 almost impossible to distinguish one from the other, 

 except when "in hand." The present species breeds 

 certainly in Spitzbergen, and eggs supposed to belong 

 to it have been found in Iceland. I have kept several 

 of this species, pinioned, on my fowl-ponds, but they 

 have never bred, or, so far as I know, even laid eggs at 

 Lilford, and seem rather to shun than court the company 

 of other species. 



