The adult is greyish brown on the upper parts and breast, the rest of the under parts being whitish grey with a few black feathers. The young are rather darker and lack the black feathers underneath. Length 34 in.; wing 17 in. THE WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Anser albifrons (Scopoli) This Goose, whose chief breeding grounds are in Siberia, though it also nests across the whole of Northern Europe, visits us in fair numbers every winter, but it is more abundant in the south and south-west than on the east coast, and is everywhere very local in its distribution. It very closely resembles the Grey Lag Goose, but there is more white on the forehead; the bill is orange yellow with white nail, and the legs orange. Length 27 in.; wing 16 in. THE BEAN GOOSE Anser segetum (J. F. Gmelin) This species nests throughout Northern Europe and Asia. It is common on our coasts in winter, and is in fact the most abundant of our wild Geese. In Scotland, however, it is not so numerous as the preceding species. This bird feeds inland on grain and vegetation. The bill is black, with an orange band across the centre and a _black_ nail; the amount of orange on the bill varies, however, in individuals, and several forms have been differentiated, though the matter requires further confirmation before being finally accepted. The amount of orange in the bill may also vary, in some cases, during the life of a single individual. Legs orange yellow. There is no bluish grey on the shoulder of the wing, as in the Grey Lag and Pink-footed. Length 34 in.; wing 19 in. THE PINK-FOOTED GOOSE Anser brachyrhynchus, Baillon On the east of England and Scotland this species is very plentiful during the winter, but in the south of England and on our west coasts it is comparatively rare, and its occurrence in Ireland is not yet authenticated. It breeds in Northern Europe and is apparently the only “Grey Goose” breeding on Spitzbergen. The bill is black, with pink across the centre and a black nail. Legs pink. This pink colour has sometimes a yellowish tinge and so cannot be accepted as a definite character on which to diagnose this species. The wing, however, in the Pink-footed Goose is blue grey, approaching that of the Grey Lag, and this, together with its smaller size, will distinguish it from the preceding species. Length 28 in.; wing 17·5 in. THE SNOW GOOSE Chen hyperboreus (Pallas) This is a North American species, breeding in Arctic Regions and wandering south in winter. It has occurred several times in Ireland, and small flocks were seen in Cumberland, Northumberland, and Yorkshire during the severe winter of 1890-91. The adult is pure white, with black quills. The young is brownish grey on the back, lighter on the under parts. Length about 30 in.; wing 17 in.