70 ANATIDAG 
according as they grew ripe these ‘berries’ dropped into 
the sea, and shortly afterwards re-appeared on the surface 
as fully developed Geese. It is hard to conceive that such 
gross superstition is possible, but one can understand that 
to fishermen living in isolated parts and unacquainted with 
bird migration, the sudden appearance of multitudes of 
these weird ‘mourning-plumed’ birds foraging among the 
seaweeds, must cause no small amount of surprise and 
conjecture as to their origin." 
Flight.—The flight of the Bernacle is strong and rapid ; 
the birds often form a V-shaped flock, which breaks up 
irregularly as they descend toward their feeding-grounds. 
Voice—The voice is low and murmuring and pleasing 
to the ear. 
Food.—Bernacles delight to congregate on grass-covered 
islands, or on the brow of a lonely hill or elevated field 
overlooking the sea, where, free from molestation, they can 
readily pluck the grasses, clover and maritime herbs. ‘They 
are shy birds, guarding their flocks by sentinels and keeping 
up a noisy cackle while feeding. They often fly down to the 
beach at low water, but unlike Brent Geese, do not require 
extensive mud-flats on which to procure their food, indeed 
many flocks resort to sea-pools surrounded by seaweed- 
covered rocks. 
The Bernacle is not a bird of the market, and it is 
seldom seen in large numbers in the game-dealers’ shops ; 
nevertheless its flesh is much esteemed. 
Nest.—Little 1s known of the nesting-habits of this 
Goose. It breeds, however, freely in captivity, usually 
making a nest of grass, slender stems and coarse herbage, 
and lining it with down. 
The eggs, four in number,’ are white with a smooth shell. 
The bird commences hatching about May. 
Geographical distribution.—The Bernacle-Goose breeds 
probably in Greenland, Iceland and Spitzbergen, along the 
shore of the White Sea, and other Arctic regions, but its 
distribution in the nesting-season requires further investi- 
gation. Professor Collett mentions a pair that bred for 
several years on one of the Lofoten islands off the Nor- 
'The name ‘ Bernacle,’ without the word ‘Goose’ following, is 
often used to designate this bird, owing to the ancient fable of its origin. 
?This is the number which I have most frequently seen laid in 
captivity. 
