26 BIKDS OF NORFOLK. 



presumes the term "bean" goose to be derived "from 

 the likeness of the ^ nail ' of the bill to a horse bean." 

 Selbj, however, is perhaps correct in attributing this 

 trivial name to its partiality for that kind of food, as he 

 remarks that " in the early part of spring they often 

 alight upon the newly sown bean and pea-fields." 

 His observations also on their habits in the north of 

 England agree altogether with our local experience, 

 their haunts or feeding grounds, as he states, being 

 "more frequently in the higher districts than in the 

 lower and marshy tracts of the country, and they give 

 the preference to open land, or where the enclosures are 

 very large." From their feeding much upon the young 

 wheat, and the stubbles or layers of clover"^ as well as 

 grasses, it was at one time the custom, in the western 

 parts of this county, to employ boys after the fashion of 

 crow-keeping to drive them off the lands, but at night 

 they betake themselves to the low grounds or sand-banks 

 ■ and estuaries on the coast. Ma<3gillivray, however, states 

 that their habits vary according to circumstances with 

 regard to the time of resting and feeding, and describes 

 those frequenting the Montrose basin in winter as 

 betaking themselves to the water by day and feeding 

 in the fields at night, whilst in the Bay of Findhorn 

 *' multitudes are seen coming from the surrounding 

 country to repose at night," which ^' early in the morn- 

 ing betake themselves to the fields where they feed until 

 evening, if undisturbed." 



From the want of a good series of examples, of both 

 the bean goose and pink -footed, I have been unable, till 



* James Cater, of Fakenliam, now in his eiglitietli year, who 

 was formerly gamekeeper to the Eev. R. Hamond, and well 

 acquainted with the country around SwafFham, informs nae that 

 these birds used to frequent the new layers after harvest by 

 hundreds, and did much damage by eating out the heart of the 

 clover. 



