THE BEAN GOOSE. 415 



islands off the western coast of Norway, within and about 

 the polar circle. M. Malm describes it as pretty common in 

 both Enare and Utsjoki Lapmark, where it breeds, he says, 

 on the distant fjall morasses. " It is remarkable," Nilsson 

 observes, " that this goose is altogether unknown in Siberia, 

 and in a large portion of the immensely extended Russian 

 empire, where the grey-lag goose is so common." In Den- 

 mark, as in the more southern parts of Sweden, it is only 

 seen during migration. 



The bean goose is tamed with great facility. The follow- 

 ing very remarkable instance of its domesticity, as well as 

 affectionate disposition, is given in " The Natural History of 

 Ireland." 



"At Springmount, near Clough, a male bean goose, 

 slightly wounded in the wing, was placed with a flock of 

 common geese, from which he at once selected a partner, 

 and thenceforth paid no attention to any others of her sex. 

 He was evidently most unhappy when separated from her, 

 even in winter, and on one occasion was the means of saving 

 her life. The cook being ordered to kill one of the geese, laid 

 hold of the first that came to hand, which happened to be 

 the wild gander's partner ; when so remarkably vehement 

 were his cries, that even the uplifted hand of the murderess 

 was stayed, and some members of the family, with others of 

 the household, hurrying to the scene of uproar, the cause of 

 the bird's anxiety was discovered, and the intended victim set 

 at liberty. This was told to me in January, 1838, and no 

 further attempts have since been made on the fair one's life. 

 In November, 1848, they were removed to a new residence, 

 where they continue, apparently as happy as geese can be. 



" For several successive years after this pair became asso- 



