68 
GREY LAG- GOOSE. 
ferent colour of the feet, its larger size, and some 
other less conspicuous distinctions, is the 
Grey Lag-goose,* Anser ferus. — From the 
species of British geese having been so confounded, 
the habits of the Grey-lag have been mixed up 
with them ; and though information that can be 
relied on has been obtained in regard to the others, 
we have no very authentic notice of the bird now 
before us during the breeding time, or of its range 
and migrations. From the testimony of various 
writers, it appears to have been more common in 
former days, remaining even to breed ; but if the 
latter fact can be relied upon, it has many years 
since fled from the inroads of cultivation, and may 
be considered as a bird of considerable rarity, 
and so far as is at present ascertained, it is not 
known to breed in any part of the British islands. 
Mr. Yarrell states that it is equally rare in the 
London markets, some winters passing -without 
any instances of the the bird being brought in. In 
Ireland it is now also rare, though formerly con- 
sidered to have been more abundant. In Central 
and Southern Europe it is only partially known ; but 
in the North, upon the authority of Mr. Dann, it 
regularly breeds, and a few pairs at the same season 
visit some parts of Sweden. It is neither, however, 
Uny-Ceffffed Moose has been lately considered as the cor- 
ntet reading of this name ; as, however, long applied to it, we 
prefer the old provincial spelling. 
