ANSERINE. ANSER. 
147 
and oblong, of tbe neck narrow, and disposed in oblique 
ridges ; wings large, of twenty-six quills, the second longest, 
the first slightly shorter ; secondaries broad and rounded, 
the inner elongated. Tail short, rounded, of sixteen broad 
feathers. 
The Geese inhabit the temperate and arctic regions of 
both Continents, reside mostly in marshes, but frequently 
betake themselves to dry fields and pastures, feed on vege- 
table substances, walk slowly and sedately, swim with ease, 
have a strong and rapid flight, and emit harsh cries. They 
are gregarious, nestle on the ground, and lay numerous, 
broadly ovate, white eggs. The male continues with the 
female and young. Their flesh is much esteemed, being 
nutritious and highly flavoured. 
231. Anser palustris. Thick-billed Grey Goose. 
Male thirty-three inches long ; bill very thick, as long as 
the head, two inches and a half in length, an inch and a half 
in height at the base, ten and a half twelfths in breadth be- 
hind the circular unguis, yellowish- orange, with the unguis 
white or bluish-grey ; the tarsus three inches long, flesh-co- 
loured ; the wings scarcely shorter than the tail ; feathers of 
the neck linear-oblong, disposed in ridges ; head and neck 
greyish-brown ; upper parts grey and brown, barred with the 
whitish terminal margins of the feathers ; hind part of the 
back ash-grey ; lower parts pale brownish-grey, becoming 
white behind. Female similar, but smaller. Young with 
the upper parts darker, the head and neck of a lighter brown. 
Wild Goose. Marsh Goose. Grey Lag. Grey Goose. 
Fen Goose. 
Male, 33, 64, 17J, 2J, 3, 3 X V, T V Female, 30, 60. 
This species is not of common occurrence in any part of 
Britain, and does not remain to breed with us. It arrives in 
October and departs in April. Generally dispersed over 
Europe. 
Anas Anser, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. 197. — Anas Anser, Lath. 
Ind. Ornith. ii. 841. — -Anser ferns, Temm. Man. d’Ornith. 
iv. 517. — Anser palustris, Thick-billed Grey Goose, Mac- 
Gillivray, Brit. Birds, v. 
232. Anser segetum. Narrow-billed Grey Goose. 
Male thirty inches long ; bill moderately thick, nearly as 
