230 BRITISH. SEA BIRDS. 
distinguished from the two preceding Geese by the 
colour of its bill, which has only the central portion 
orange-yellow, the base and the nail being black. 
This species arrives in our area during October and 
November. It is gregarious during winter, congre- 
gating in flocks of varying size, which wander 
about considerably, influenced by the exigencies of 
the weather and the supply of food. These gather- 
ings are difficult to approach. During the day the 
Bean Geese come inland to search for their food, 
on the stubbles and newly-sown grain lands. A 
long-continued frost will keep them to the coast ; 
but during spells of open, yet rough and stormy 
weather, they prefer to remain in inland haunts, 
from which, however, they soon depart at the sign 
of a coming frost. When feeding, Bean Geese 
generally station sentinels to guard the flock by 
giving timely notice of the approach of an enemy. 
Their food consists of grass, grain, tender shoots of 
grain, and the roots of various plants.. During night, 
when they are certainly more easily approached, 
they repair to sand banks and low islands, or to 
the open sea, where they sleep and preen their 
feathers. This Goose swims well, but rises from 
water in a somewhat laboured manner. Its note is 
the familiar gag-gag, variously modulated according 
to circumstances. 
The Bean Goose breeds on the Arctic tundras, 
beyond or near the limits of forest growth, across. 
Europe and Asia, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. 
