. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders, with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . differs from thepreceding in being somewhat smaller, and having the bill moreslender, although not much shorter; the hind part ot the back is alsodark brown. In its habits it closely resembles the Grey-lag Goose,for which it has probably been frequently mistaken. Vast flocks ofthis species frequent the northern waters, such as Montrose Bay, themouth of the Findhorn, and especially the inland waters of Ross THE WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. 249 and Sutherland ■— thirty
. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders, with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . differs from thepreceding in being somewhat smaller, and having the bill moreslender, although not much shorter; the hind part ot the back is alsodark brown. In its habits it closely resembles the Grey-lag Goose,for which it has probably been frequently mistaken. Vast flocks ofthis species frequent the northern waters, such as Montrose Bay, themouth of the Findhorn, and especially the inland waters of Ross THE WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. 249 and Sutherland ■— thirty or forty pairs having their nests annuallyon Lake Laighal. In France this bird is called the Harvest Goose. The Canadian Goose {Anser canadensis, Fig. 91) is a handsomebird with white markings about the junction of the head and are not so large as the Grey-lag Goose, and are very abundantin North America, where they are migratory. The Bernicle Goose {Anser bernic/a) is so called from a foolishtradition of the Middle Ages of their being produced from thebarnacle shell which attaches itself to ships bottoms and timber. Fig. 92.—White-fronted Bernicle. floating in the sea. They differ from the true Geese in having thehead smaller, the bill shorter and more- conical, the breast-feathersmuch larger, and in the predominance of black in their plumage,bills, and feet. The plumage is full, very soft, and close. There areseveral species of Bernicla. The one above described, and the White-faced Goose {Anser eryf/iropus, Fig. 92), are the best known. The White-fronted Goose {Anser erythropus). In its winter plumage this is a beautiful goose, much smaller thanthose just described, but with a full body, long neck, and a small,oblong, and compressed head, with soft glossy plumage well blended 250 REPTILES AND BIRDS. on the head, neck, and breast. It occurs in considerable flocks inthe Outer Hebrides, where it arrives in October, and remains tillApril. A large flock of these b
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectreptiles, bookyear1
