THE COMMON BERNICLE. 41? 



Ronnum, as on the neighbouring coast. It passes the 

 summer months in the more northern parts of Scandinavia. 

 M. von Wright and M. Malm describe it as common 

 throughout northern Lapland, where it breeds chiefly 

 in the remote and sequestered tarns and morasses among 

 the fjalls. In Denmark it is very common during migration, 

 especially on the west coast of Jutland and the Duchies. 

 The female is said to lay from four to six eggs, which are 

 yellowish- white in colour. 



The Common Bernicle (Fjall-Gds, or Fjall-Goose, Sw. ; 

 A. Leucopsis, Bechst.). This bird, as with the bean and 

 white-fronted goose, nests in the far north, though sparingly, 

 as it would seem. M. Malm indeed only met with a single 

 pair (in the summer time) during his sojourn in northern 

 Lapland ; whence the inference is that its proper breeding- 

 grounds are in the higher arctic regions. Its eggs are un- 

 known to Northern naturalists. Migrates. 



In parts of Denmark it is pretty common during migration. 

 At Gedsorgaard it has been noticed for many successive 

 years by M. Friis a careful observer that in the spring of 

 the year this bird never arrives or departs excepting with a 

 westerly or southerly wind ; that in the autumn, on the 

 contrary, it neither comes nor goes unless the wind be from 

 the north or north-east. 



" At the end of September, or beginning of October, the 

 common bernicle," according to Nilsson, " appears on the 

 southern coast of Scania in large flocks, where it feeds not 

 only on sea- weed, but on the oat-stubbles ; from which cause 

 it, in that province, is called the Hafre-Gds, or oat- 

 goose. When congregated they are very shy, and take 

 wing at the least appearance of danger, but when separate, 



VOL IT. E E 



