132 BERNICLE GOOSE. 



western side of Sutherlandshire more numerously than on the 

 east. 



It frequents the sea-coast and sandy places thereby, where 

 grass and other plants find root. 



The Bernicle Goose has been noticed in various numbers, 

 more or less, in Lancashire, and on the Firth of Solvvay, 

 as also in the counties of Northumberland, Devon, Cornwall, 

 Dorset, and Sussex. 



It is likewise an Irish species, and has been procured at 

 different times, though only locally. In Orkney, numbers 

 arrive in the autumn, and remain till the spring. 



'Its migratory journeys are performed during both night 

 and day, in considerable flocks, and invariably along the 

 sea-coast, skirting the land around headlands and bays, and 

 passing only when necessary over the open sea. The 

 roosting-places are also the sea-coast.' They leave us for 

 more northerly regions early in the spring, none remaining 

 after the middle, of March. They return in the autumn. 



Some of the birds of this species, preserved on the water 

 in St. James' Park, have produced eggs. They very soon 

 become perfectly tame, and exhibit the longevity in confine- 

 ment of the other kind, that is to say at least, if given 

 the opportunity. I saw some a year or two since in a 

 quite domesticated state: in the wild condition they are very 

 shy. One is said to have been known to have reached the 

 long period of thirty-two years. After arriving at a 'certain 

 age' there may perhaps in its case have been another con- 

 sideration, beyond the more scientific one of ascertaining the 

 duration of life in the species: they are considered good for 

 the table. 



The late Lord Derby has recorded the circumstance of 

 one of these Geese having paired one year with a Canada 

 Goose, and the following year with a White-fronted Goose. 

 In the former instance no eggs were laid; in the latter 

 nine or ten. 



They are birds of sociable habits, both among themselves 

 and with other kindred kinds. It is well known that a 

 ridiculous notion formerly prevailed respecting the origin of 

 the Bernicle Goose. I copy the following from Bishop 

 Stanley's 'Familiar History of Birds:' 



'It will scarcely be now-a-days believed, that this Bernicle 

 or Tree Goose actually derived its name from a very general 

 belief that, instead of being hatched, like other birds, from 



