WILD-GEESE. 73 
of a livid tint, the nails pale at the base with dark 
tips. 
These descriptions contain nearly all that is 
known of the British wild-geese, which, from their 
close alliance, have been confounded together ; but 
notwithstanding the authorities we have given, we 
are not sure that their distribution or frequency can 
be deduced from them without fear of contradiction. 
We feel also almost inclined to think that a fourth 
species may even yet be involved among them in 
the large-billed bird of our wood-cut, p. 66. We 
find that this, from the different size and form of 
tho bill, has been by several authors considered as 
the true wild-goose or Grey-lag, while the later 
writers do not seem to have observed this bird 
among their researches, and we have to regret that 
we have been unable now to procure a recent speci- 
men of that described as having flesh-coloured feet 
and the white nail. To bring them at once before 
the observer, the following summary may be of use : 
1 . Wild or Grey Lag-goose — Bill long, pale flesh- 
colour, nail white ; feet and legs dull flesh- 
colour ; tail consisting of — feathers. 
2. Pink-footed Goose Bill short, deep pink co- 
lour, nail black, nostrils oblong ; feet and legs 
livid pink; tail consisting of 14 feathers. 
3. Bean Goose . — Bill short, orange-yellow, nail 
black, nostrils round ; feet and legs orange-yel- 
low ; tail consisting of — feathers. 
