THE BK-AN GOOSE. 65 



they here suffer more disturbance ; according to the 

 keeper's account, from thirty to forty pairs breed 

 annually, and on inspecting the situation of the 

 nests, we found many of them placed near each 

 other on the small islands, often near the shore, and 

 among heather at least three feet in length. In 

 Ireland the Bean Goose is considered as a frequent 

 winter visitant- In Central and Southern Europe 

 it is also migratory ; in Northern Europe it breeds, 

 and was met with by Mr. Hewitson near the arctic 

 circle, during his excursion for the benefit of his 

 Oology. The nest was found on one of the numer- 

 ous islands which cover the Norwegian sea ; these 

 are visited by the natives of the neighbouring coasts 

 for the sake of the eggs, and the birds, even in those 

 remote regions, are much persecuted. We do not 

 know, however, what the extent of its extra- 

 European range may be, and have no trace of it 

 from Asia or Africa; and though met with by 

 Hewitson near to the arctic circle, it is neither 

 mentioned in the reports of any of the northern 

 voyagers, in the " Northern Zoology," nor by 

 Audubon as American, while in the " Comparative 

 List," Anser Canadensis is placed as its opposite 

 representative. 



The Bean Goose has lately bred in confinement 

 in the collection of the Ornithological Society in 

 London. 



In our own collection we possess two specimens 

 of Geese, agreeing in size and colouring, but show- 

 ing the differences in the outline and size of the bill, 







