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WILD-GEESE. 
articulated on the tarsus, free, without a lobe 
or membrane. 
Types. — A . segetum, albifrons, bemicla, &c. Eu- 
rope, Asia, America. 
Note. — Gregarious ; feed chiefly on vegetables or 
grains ; easily domesticated. Dive only to 
escape danger. Trachea simple. 
The term “ wild-goose,” or “ wild-geese,” is so 
promiscuously applied to the species found in our 
islands, that it is impossible to trace their individual 
range or frequency. In Scotland, ono species is, 
however, much more numerously and generally dis- 
tributed than any of the others ; and as we have 
had more opportunities of observing this, we shall 
first give some account of the 
Bean Goose, Anser segetum, Pennant . — This 
species, in the north of England, and over two- 
thirds of the southern portion of Scotland, is a winter 
visitant from higher latitudes, appearing on the coasts 
at the approach of severe weather, making excursions 
inland to feed, and, whan the weather has become 
settled to winter, often selecting some interior inland 
situation, where the party or flock will remaiii for 
some time, or until a change has taken place. 
The haunts at these times are extensive flat tracts, 
such as holm or meadow pasture, wet marshy 
ground, often at a considerable elevation and on the 
borders of pastoral lands. As spring advances and 
