THE BEAN GOOSE, ETC. 169 



raw in this country ; but Norwegian stomachs will 

 digest anything, however nasty, if capable of mastica- 

 tion. 



The bean goose (A. segetum). This bird resembles 

 the preceding species, except that it is smaller in size ; 

 it is common in Norwegian Lapland, where it breeds 

 on mountain morasses. " It is notable," says Nilsson 

 of this species, " that this goose is unknown in Siberia, 

 where the gray-leg goose is so common." 



The bean goose feeds on aquatic plants and their 

 seeds ; it also frequents the .corn and bean fields, 

 whence its name of " segetum." It breeds, in May, in 

 the fjelds of Norwegian Lapland, as well as by the 

 Porsanger-fjord. The nest contains from seven to ten 

 white eggs. 



Mr. Malm, an eminent Swedish naturalist, describes 

 how, in the spring of the year, a flock of nineteen of 

 this species was captured near Lund, in the south of 

 Sweden. The birds were on their way to their breed- 

 ing grounds in the north, when they alighted within 

 a farmyard enclosure that was surrounded by high 

 palisades. Wearied with their long journey, they 

 were unable to fly over the high fences, and were all 

 captured alive. 



The bernicle goose (A. leucopsis) is called here the 

 fjeld-gaas, or mountain goose. It is frequently seen 

 in Bast Finmark, but does not breed there. Its home 

 during the season of incubation is on the eastern shores 

 of the White Sea. When migrating it passes south- 

 wards through Sweden, and not by way of Norway. 



The white-fronted goose (A. albifrons). This is 

 another species which is common enough in Finmark 

 during the breeding season ; it is observed near 



