. Indian sporting birds . vergeson or is replaced by orange. The slaty-grey inner half of thewing, however, which resembles the same part in the greygoose, though darker like the rest of the plumage, will distinguisha pink-footed goose whose feet are not a true pink from theorange-legged bean-goose; besides which the bean-goose is abig-billed bird, the beak being two and a half to three inches,while the pink-footed, as indicated by its scientific name, whichmeans short-billed, has a particularly small beak, only acouple of inches long, and narrow in proportion. The pink-footed goose is one of
. Indian sporting birds . vergeson or is replaced by orange. The slaty-grey inner half of thewing, however, which resembles the same part in the greygoose, though darker like the rest of the plumage, will distinguisha pink-footed goose whose feet are not a true pink from theorange-legged bean-goose; besides which the bean-goose is abig-billed bird, the beak being two and a half to three inches,while the pink-footed, as indicated by its scientific name, whichmeans short-billed, has a particularly small beak, only acouple of inches long, and narrow in proportion. The pink-footed goose is one of our winter rarities, but hasbeen reported on several occasions, though actual specimenshave very rarely been preserved. It has been reported from thePunjaub, Oudh, Assam, and the Shan States, and Mr. E. C. has one procured in Cachar. This specimen was got bya fluke by one of his native collectors out of a very wide-awakeflock of about a dozen, and a Hock of twenty has been reportedfrom the Punjaub. Wi ^ \ V \. VX. CO CJ >- HI < en .CD en BEAN-GOOSE 65 It is possible, however, that, as Mr. Baker says, this speciesmay have been mixed up with Sushkins goose, Anser neglectus,a little-known species recently described, ranging as near asPersia, and believed to have been obtained in India. This also has pink feet and the centre of the bill pink, but itresembles the bean-goose m plumage, having no slate-colour onthe wing, and its bill is about two and a half inches long, thoughnot so well developed as in the bean-goose. I must say I amvery suspicious of all these supposed new species of geese, and Iam inclined to suspect that as the pink-footed goose may haveorange where it ought to be pink, the bean-goose may return thecompliment. Also, what is there to prevent these nearly alliedgeese from hybridizing, which geese do most readily in captivity?Anyone, therefore, shooting a pink-footed goose of any sortshould be careful particularly to record the colour of wing andsize of
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