THE GREY LAG GOOSE. 
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To drop, full-fledg'd, the Bernacle ; 
Distinct his mottled phimcs' array 
With crescent rims, bhick, white, and grey ; 
All white his cheeks ; with sable spread 
His neck, and breast, and slender head. 
Stragglers besides, but these the most, 
Arrang'd in duly-marshall'd host. 
In Arctic regions nurtured, thence 
Now first their wintry flight commence, 
In wedge-like troop right onward bear, 
Or cleave with streaming file the air. 
The careful leader's gathering cry, 
Behind, the attentive train's reply, 
Alternate, as they forward steer 
Their rapid course, give mutual cheer. 
We have here several species of Wild Geese brought 
under our notice, all of which will presently be more fully 
described. The Common Wild Goose, or Grey Lag, is placed 
as leader of the migratory host, and his size and strength 
give him a claim to this distinction. Whether, as some say, 
he is the sole originator of our domestic breed, is open to 
question. Yarrell is of opinion that another species, the 
White-fronted, may fairly claim a share in this distinguished 
service to man. Our Grey Lag is a handsome bird, although 
there is not much variety in his colours, these being chiefly 
brown and ash grey, relieved with white ; the bill is of an 
orange tint, and the feet a dull flesh-colour. Yarrell 
terms this the Grey-legged Goose, but it is the claws only 
which have a purplish grey tint ; indeed, to no species of 
Wild Goose which visits Britain will this term properly 
apply. 
The Narrow-billed Grey Goose (Anser segetum). — 
This is the Anas Anser of Linnaius, the Bean Goose of most 
authors, so called because it has a mark on the bill which 
is thought to bear some resemblance to a bean. It is some- 
what smaller in size than the last species, with which it is 
often confounded, although the colours of its plumage are 
generally somewhat darker. The common term, Wild 
Goose, is as often applied to this as to the Grey Lag ; it is 
also sometimes called the Small Grey Goose. 
Although a regular winter visitant in Britain and Ire- 
land, it is very doubtful whether this species ever breeds 
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