60 ANATID.E. 



ous as a species among our wild geese, with the exception of 

 the Brent Goose, to be hereafter noticed. 



It has been ascertained that a few Bean Geese breed in 

 some parts of this country, but the greater portion make their 

 appearance in September and October, coming from Scandi- 

 navia, and from still higher northern latitudes. From the 

 greater security against surprise, which an uninclosed country 

 affords, these birds appear to prefer very large open fields. 

 The Rev. Richard Lubbock sent me word that immense 

 flocks are seen in the western parts of Norfolk. I remember 

 to have seen flocks containing, apparently, several hundreds in 

 that county, some years ago, in the month of September, 

 where they feed on the extensive stubbles ; and I have been 

 told lately, that these birds visit Gloucestershire, and other 

 parts in the vicinity of the Severn, as early as August. 



During an excursion made by a party of naturalists in 

 Sutherlandshire, in the summer of 1834, Mr. Selby says, 

 " we were agreeably surprised to find that the Bean Goose 

 annually breeds upon several of the Sutherland lakes. The 

 first intimation we received of this interesting fact was at 

 Lairg, where we were informed that a few pairs bred upon 

 some islands about twelve miles up Loch Shin. We accord- 

 ingly took boat the following morning, and, upon arriving at 

 the place, discovered a single pair, attended by four or five 

 young goslings. None were obtained, as the old birds being 

 wild, escaped, seemingly uninjured, although repeatedly fired 

 at, and the goslings immediately dived, and escaped into the 

 reeds and other herbage. Upon Loch Naver we also found 

 several pairs attended by their young, seemingly about a 

 fortnight or three weeks old, one of which, after a severe 

 chase, we procured. Upon the islands of Loch Laighal, from 

 thirty to forty pairs, we were informed, annually had their 

 nests. We saw several old birds, and the nests that had 

 been used, which arc concealed in heath upwards of three 



