BEAN GOOSE. 149 



merous as a species among our wild geese, with the excep- 

 tion of the Brent Goose, to be hereafter noticed. 



It has been ascertained that a few Bean Geese breed in 

 some parts of this country, but the greater portion make 

 their appearance in September and October, coming from 

 Scandinavia, and from still higher northern latitudes. 

 From the greater security against surprise, which an un- 

 inclosed country affords, these birds appear to prefer very 

 large open fields. The Kev. Richard Lubbock sent me word 

 that immense flocks are seen in the western parts of Nor- 

 folk. I remember to have seen flocks containing, appa- 

 rently, several hundreds in that county, some years ago, 

 in the month of September, where they feed on the exten- 

 sive stubbles ; I have been told lately, that these birds and 

 the Pink-footed Goose visit Gloucestershire, and other parts 

 in the vicinity of the Severn, as early as August. 



During an excursion made by a party of naturalists in 

 Sutherlandshire, in the summer of 1834, Mr. Selby says, 

 " we were agreeably surprised to find that the Bean Goose 

 annually breeds upon several of the Sutherland lakes. 

 The first intimation we received of this interesting fact 

 was at Lairg, where we were informed that a few pairs 

 bred upon some islands about twelve miles up Loch Shin. 

 We accordingly took boat the following morning, and, 

 upon arriving at the place, discovered a single pair, at- 

 tended by four or five young goslings. None were ob- 

 tained, as the old birds being wild, escaped, seemingly un- 

 injured, although repeatedly fired at, and the goslings im- 

 mediately dived, and escaped into the reeds and other 

 herbage. Upon Loch Naver we also found several pairs 

 attended by their young, seemingly about a fortnight or 

 three weeks old, one of which, after a severe chase, we 

 procured. Upon the islands of Loch Laighal, from thirty 



