338 The Scottish Naturalist. 



shooter in the Carse under the name of the Little Black-nebbed, 

 the Bean -Goose (by far the less common of the two) being 

 designated the Big Black-nebbed, both having the nail of the 

 beak black, whereas in the two other species it is white, — the 

 pink feet of the one, and the yellow legs of the other, being 

 quite sufficient at all times to distinguish them. At certain 

 states of the tide the Geese quit the river, and settling in large 

 flocks on the fields, often do much damage both to the clover 

 and young wheat; and especially in the spring-time, when, just 

 previous to their departure in the month of April, they visit 

 the newly-sown bean-fields, at which season the farmer is, by 

 the Wild Birds Protection Act, interdicted from shooting them. 



117. Bernicla Brenta, Gould. (Brent Goose.) 



The Brent Goose, confined more to the mud -flats on our 

 coast, is not often seen in the upper parts of the district. It has, 

 however, been shot on Methven Loch, and one or two other 

 places. Mr John Nelson of Dundee kindly informs me in a 

 recent letter that, though not numerous, a few are to be seen 

 every winter at the mouth of the Tay — the largest flocks noticed 

 by him consisting of not more than twenty birds. I have been 

 unable to ascertain any instance of the true Bernicle {Bernicla 

 leucopsis, Boie) occurring with us, it seeming to be more of a 

 western species. 



Bernicla canadensis, Gould. (Canada Goose.) 



This bird is so often kept as an ornament on artificial pieces 

 of water, tliat its occasional appearance on our lochs and rivers 

 is not to be wondered at, but at the same time renders it diffi- 

 cult to determine whether they are really found in a wild state in 

 this country or not. Mr Brooke makes mention in the ' Zoologist ' 

 of having noticed four of these birds on Butterstone Loch, near 

 Dunkeld, in the end of April, three or four years ago, which were 

 restless and easily disturbed on the slightest sign of danger. These 

 may possibly have been wild birds ; for I can see no reason to 

 doubt their occasional appearance, abounding as they do on the 

 Atlantic shores of America. The Egyptian Goose {Anser ccgyp- 

 tiacus\ on the other hand, which is also occasionally seen on our 

 waters, I think more likely to be from domestic sources. A pair 

 visited the Earn, near Moncreiffe, the winter before last (1878-79), 

 and it has been occasionally seen on the Tay. A fine specimen 



