WHITE- FRONTED GOOSE. 69 



numerous as the Bean Goose, but occasionally appearing in 

 very large flocks, and in some proportion to the severity of 

 the weather. This species frequents marshes and morasses, 

 rather than corn fields ; and birds examined by Mr. Selby were 

 found to have their stomachs filled with the tender shoots and 

 leaves of the common clover. These birds are not uncom- 

 mon in the shops of the London poulterers from November 

 till March, and are in some request for the table as one of the 

 best among the different sorts of wild geese. They are not 

 known to remain to breed in any part of this country in their 

 natural wild state, that I am aware of; but a pair in the Gar- 

 dens of the Zoological Society, have this season brought forth 

 their brood from one of the islands in the pond to which they 

 are restricted, and show great anxiety for the safety of their 

 young. The egg is white, tinged with buff, and measures 

 two inches ten lines in length, by one inch and eleven lines 

 in breadth. 



This species is a regular winter visiter to Ireland, and is 

 occasionally killed in Wales. Large flocks were seen in 

 Cornwall and Devonshire, during the winter of 1829-30, 

 which frequented turnip fields. It has been frequently killed 

 in Hampshire, Sussex, Kent, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Nor- 

 folk, Durham, and Northumberland. I can find no records 

 of its appearance in Orkney or Shetland. Mr. Richard 

 Dann''s note to me on this species is as follows : — 



This is the Common Goose in Lapland, and by the 

 Laps called the Mountain Goose from its frequenting more 

 elevated districts than the Bean Goose. It breeds in small 

 numbers south of Juckasiervi, in Tornea Lapland, but not 

 further west than Killingsuvanda. It appears in great num- 

 bers in the spring at Quickiock, but does not breed there. 

 None of the western parts of Swedish Lapland are adapted 

 either for Sandpipers or the Duck tribe, the lakes being 

 generally rocky, and the swamps not of sufficient extent. 



