ANSER.
Bill high at base, lamellations strong, visible from outside; tip of upper mandible occupied by nail; vegetarian and granivorous, feeding chiefly by night ; gregarious except in breeding season ; nest depression in ground or amongst herbage lined with down.
Anser anser (L.). GREY LAG-GOOSE. Fr. Oie cendree ; Ger. Graugans ; Ital. Oca selvatica ; Swed Gragas.
j 9 Above brown with pale margins, occasionally some white at base of bill, wing coverts, lower back, and rump grey ; beneath paler brown with some black feathers. Bill pinkish flesh to orange yellow, nail horny white. Legs and feet flesh colour, claws black. Iris brown. \Ving 415-480. Tarsus 73-79. Bill 47-Co. reeds.—Iceland, N. and W. Scotland, Continental Europe north and east of a line from Denmark through Germany, Austria and Hungary to Rumania and Macedonia (has also bred in Spain and Algeria), Caucasus, and through N. Asia to Kamtschatka. Chiefly migratory. Resident in Scotland, occurs in winter south to Mediterranean (abundant S. Spain) and N.W. Africa, and S.W. Asia to India and China ; occasional in Azores and Madeira.
Anser albifrons albifrons (Scopoli). WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. Ger. Blassgans ; I tal. Oca lombardella ; Swett. Blasgas. Resemble "A. anser" but smaller, and lack grey on wing coverts and rump ; a white band on forehead varying in width and not reaching eyes ; underparts heavily marked with black (except in extreme youth). \Vings long, but barely reaching end of tail. Bill pale flesh, edges of nostrils, a longi tudinal streak between them and on rami of lower mandible yellowish, nail white. Legs and feet orange, occasionally pinkish, claws white. Eyelids grey. \Ving 6" 415-450, 380-405. Tarsus 68-75. Bill 45-51.
Breeds.—Lapland, Finland, Kola and Kanin Peninsulas, Kolguev, Nova Zembla, and through N. Siberia to New Siberian Islands ; also Iceland and Greenland. Migratory ; occurs in winter in C. and S. Europe (British Isles to Mediterranean), N. Africa, and widely in S. Asia ; found on passage in N. Europe, Denmark, Poland, Germany, and C. Russia.
Anser erythropus (L.). LESSER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. Er. Oie naive ; Ger. Zwerggans ; Swed. Finmarke Gas.
Smaller than "albifrons," wings reach beyond tail, white on forehead extends above to behind the line of the eyes. Eyelids orange yellow. Bill rosy flesh or rosy red, nail white. Legs and feet orange yellow. Iris dark chestnut. \Ving d 352-381. Tarsus 58-62. Bill 28-35 (\V.).
Breeds.—Finland, Lapland, Kanin Peninsula, Kolguev, Nova Zembla and across north Coast of Asia. Migrates ; winters W. Europe, British Isles to Spain and Italy (rare), also Greece and Egypt and in Asia (India to China and Japan).
Anser fabalis fabalis (Latham). BEAN GOOSE. Fr. Oie vulgaire ; Ger. Saatgans ; Ifal. Oca granaiola ; Swed.
Sidgas.
Resemble "A. anser" but darker and margins paler, no grey on wing coverts or rump, and no black markings on underparts. Bill black and orange yellow, hut very variable, usually upper mandible black at base, with a yellow band below and in front between base and nail, lower mandible yellow, with black along rami and at tip. Nail usually black, but sometimes white or half white, half black. Legs and feet amber to orange yellow, claws black. Iris brown. Wing S 447-473, ? 424-452. Tarsus 71-82 (W.). Bill 50-63.
Breeds.—N. Europe from in Norway, Finland, N. Sweden, and N. Russia ; Kolguev, Nova Zembla, and in Siberia east to Taimyr Peninsula. Migratory ; many winter in Sweden, and occur also through Europe from British Isles to Mediterranean and Black Seas ; N.W. Africa and Caucasus ; found in Baltic Provinces and Poland only on passage. Occasional Iceland and Greenland ; rare visitor Madeira.
Anser brachyrhynchus Baillon. PINK-FOOTED GOOSE. Ger. Rotfussgans ; Szeied. Spetsbergen Sddgas.
? Smaller than "A. fabalis," wing coverts, especially greater coverts, grey, and greyer on underparts. Bill shorter, black at base and on nail, remainder rosy pink, this colour extending back under nostrils to gape. Legs and feet pink. Iris dark brown. Wing 400-46o. Tarsus 70-77. Bill Breeds.—Spitzbergen, generally on ledges of cliffs, and prob ably in Franz Joseph Land. Migrates ; occurs on passage Bear Island, Nova Zembla, Iceland, W. Norway, Denmark, and in winter British Isles (very rare Ireland), Holland, France, Sweden, Faroes, Hungary (rare), Italy (very rare).
Anser hyperboreus hyperboreus Pallas. Show GOOSE.
? Snowy white, primaries black, outer primaries grey towards base ; primary coverts grey with black shafts. Bill red, paler below and with black stripes along cutting edge, nail yellowish white. Legs and feet lilac to orange red, claws black.
Iris dark brown. Wing 383-44o. Tarsus 75-82. Bill 50-60.
Voting : ash brown with broad white margins, primaries as in adult. Bill dark brownish grey with black stripes along edges. Legs and feet dark grey.
',Wee/v.—E. Asia and W. America, in Arctic regions. Migrates to Pacific Coasts of Asia and America in winter, hut has occurred in several European countries, British Isles, Germany, Holland, France, Hungary, Norway, and Russia.
A. hyperboreus nivalis (Forster). Larger. NN'ing Tarsus So-89. Culmen 65-69 (H.). Bill larger, stronger and deeper than in "hyperboreus." 9 from Solway Firth, 18th February 1921, measured : wing 440 ; tarsus 86 ; bill 64. fin-eds.—Greenland, Arctic N.E. America. Has occurred in Ireland and Scotland.