AXATID.t. 



40 T 



THE BEAN-GOOSE. 



Anser secetum (J. F. Gmelin). 



This species and the Pink-footed Goose, next to be considered, 

 may usually be distinguished from the two preceding by the black 

 nail at the tip of the bill. The Bean-Goose does not breed in any 

 part of the British Islands, but it comes to us in autumn, and is 

 widely, though not abundantly, distributed along our coasts during 

 the winter; a return migration being observable early in spring. 

 On the eastern side, and also in Lancashire, it is decidedly less 

 plentiful than the Pink-footed Goose ; but in Cornwall it is said 

 to predominate. On the mainland of Scotland and in some of the 

 islands it is comparatively rare, while its reported occurrences in the 

 Outer Hebrides, Orkneys and Shetlands require confirmation. In 

 Ireland it is at times numerous in the midlands and west, though 

 rare in the south, and ranks next in abundance to the White-fronted 

 Goose. 



The Bean-Goose has not been identified in Iceland, and I strongly 

 suspect that the '■'■A. segetuni" recorded from East Greenland by the 

 Danish Expedition of 1891-92 is the next species. It breeds freely 

 in Scandinavia to the north of lat. 64°, and also in North Russia, 



I I 



