238 Allen's naturalist's library. 



the English Channel. On the western coasts it occurs much 

 more plentifully, and it frequently arrives in thousands, accord 

 ing to Mr. Howard Saunders, in the upper part of the Solway 

 between the end of September and the latter part of March. 

 In the western isles it occurs in some abundance, and also 

 visits the south of the Shetlands, but is local in Ireland, 

 though abundant at certain places on the northern and east- 

 ern coasts. 



Range outside the British Islands. — Very little is known of the 

 breeding-home of the Bernacle Goose, for, however plentifully 

 it may occur in winter, we are still in want of information as to 

 its nesting. It may breed in Iceland and Greenland, but there 

 is as yet no proof of the fact, and the information as to its nest- 

 ing in Spitsbergen and Novaya Zemlya is equally unsatisfactory, 

 though it is extremely probable that it does so, and the finding 

 of the species in Northern Spitsbergen in a complete state of 

 moult, as recorded by the Rev. A. E. Eaton, is almost conclu- 

 sive proof that the species breeds there. Professor Collett has 

 recorded the nesting of the species on Borgevser, one of the 

 Lofoden Isles, but this may be an exceptional instance, Mr. 

 Trevor-Battye says that it breeds on the Gusina River in the 

 island of Kolguev. In winter it is occasionally found on the 

 shores of Hudson's Bay, and occurs at this season in Russia 

 and on the coasts of other countries in Northern Europe, rarely 

 wandering to the Mediterranean countries. 



Habits. — These resemble the habits of the other shore- 

 haunting Geese, the birds feeding on grass in the marsh-lands, 

 and retiring to sand-banks to rest. One of the best accounts 

 of the habits of the Bernacle is that given by the Rev. H. A. 

 Macpherson in his "Vertebrate Fauna of Lake-land." He 

 says that the species is well-known on the coast-line, but is only 

 abundant on certain salt-marshes between Silloth and Floriston, 

 and has been observed crossing the Pennine Hills on migration. 

 His description of the habits of the Bernacle corresponds very 

 closely with those of the Pink-footed Goose as noted by me at 

 Holkham. " When the tide of the Solway begins to ebb, and 

 isolated sand-banks appear above a wild waste of waters, 

 Bernacles often rise off Rockliffe marsh, and alight again on 

 the first bars exposed, there to linger until another and more 



