132 BERNICLE GOOSE. 
western side of Sutherlandshire more numerously than on the 
east. 
It frequents the sea-coast and sandy places thereby, where 
grass and other plants find root. 
The Bernicle Goose has been noticed in various numbers, 
more or less, in Lancashire, and on the Firth of Solway, 
as also in the counties of Northumberland, Devon, Cornwall, 
Dorset, and Sussex. 
It is likewise an Irish species, and has been procured at 
different times, though only locally. In Orkney, numbers 
arrive-in the autumn, and remain till the spring. 
‘Its migratory journeys are performed during both night 
and day, in considerable flocks, and invariably along the 
sea-coast, skirting the land around headlands and bays, and 
passing only when necessary over the open sea. The 
roosting-places are also the sea-coast.’ They leave us for 
more northerly regions early in the spring, none remaining 
after the middle of March. They return in the autumn. 
Some of the birds of this species, preserved on the water 
in St. James’ Park, have produced eggs. ‘They very soon 
become perfectly tame, and exhibit the longevity in confine- 
ment of the other kind, that is to say at least, if given 
the opportunity. I saw some a year or two since in a 
quite domesticated state: in the wild condition they are very 
shy. One is said to have been known to have reached the 
long period of thirty-two years. After arriving at a ‘certain 
age’ there may perhaps in its case have been another con- 
sideration, beyond the more scientific one of ascertaining the 
duration of life in the species: they are considered good for 
the table. 
The late Lord Derby has recorded the circumstance of 
one of these Geese having paired one year with a Canada 
Goose, and the following year with a White-fronted Goose. 
In the former instance no eggs were laid; in the latter 
nine or ten. 
They are birds of sociable habits, both among themselves 
and with other kindred kinds. It is well known that a 
ridiculous notion formerly prevailed respecting the origin of 
the Bernicle Goose. I copy the following from Bishop 
Stanley’s ‘Familiar History of Birds: — 
‘It will scarcely be now-a-days believed, that this Bernicle 
or Tree Goose actually derived its name from a very general 
belief that, instead of being hatched, like other birds, from 
