46 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



sea, following a slioal of flounders, and obliging them even to 

 spring out of their element in the heat of the chase. 



IV. — Notes on the Beimcle Goose (Anser Bernicla). 

 By Mr Robert Gray, the Secretary. 



This species is much less frequent in occurrence than its ally the 

 Brent goose {Anser Brenta); and in connection with the two species 

 it is somewhat remarkable that on the East Coast the Bernicle 

 should be rare, the other being common ; while on the west side 

 of Scotland the Brent goose is very scarce and the Bernicle well 

 known. This fact appears all the more curious when we know 

 that the geograpliical range of both species extends to latitudes 

 much further west. The Bernicle is observed regularly to frequent 

 the Hebrides at the beginning of Avinter, remaining near the sea 

 shore till the middle of April, when it migrates. It feeds upon 

 grasses growing for the most part in saline marshes; the 

 Brent goose living almost exclusively on Zostera marina, and 

 algse of various kinds, from which its flesh derives a rank 

 taste. 



The Bernicle has been found in Aberdeenshire, Sutherlandshire, 

 and Forfarshire. It is also included in a catalogue of the " Birds 

 of Haddingtonshire," by John Nelson, Esq., Broomhouse, Dunbar, 

 two specimens having occurred within that gentleman's observa- 

 tion of late years. 



In a curious work published about 300 years ago, tliis bird is 

 noticed as frequenting the Firth of Clyde in large and noisy flocks, 

 near Dumbarton Castle. The following quotation will be of in- 

 terest to those who take pleasure in ancient chronicles : — 



" In the northern seas of Scotland are great clogges of timber 

 found, in the which are marvelously ingendred a sort of geese 

 called clayk-geese, and do hang by the beake til they be of perfec- 

 tion; ofttimes found, and kept m admiration for their rare forme 

 of generation. 



" At Dumbartan, directly \Tider the castle, at the mouth of the 

 riuer of Clyde, as it enters into the sea, there are a number of 

 claik-geese, blacke of colour, which in the night time do gather 

 great quantitie of the crops of the grasse, growing upon the land, 

 and carry the same to the sea. Then they assemble in a round, 

 and with a wondrous curiositie, do offer euery one his owne portion 

 to the sea-floud, and there attend vpon the flowing of the tide, till 



