BEAN-GOOSE 61 



natural haunts and its sombre brownish-grey plumage 

 renders it inconspicuous, when standing on dark marshy 

 ground, meadow-pasture, or corn-fields. It can be most 

 easily approached when feeding in company with other 

 species of Geese. Although extremely shy in its wild state, 

 the Bean-Goose is easily tamed and often displays great 

 affection for domestic animals and inmates of the farmyard. 



The Bean-Goose resorts chiefly to situations away from 

 the tide, but its movements are much influenced by 

 the weather. It is not a hardy bird, and cases are on 

 record of its capture in a semi-starved condition during or 

 after continued hard frosts. In some localities, large flocks 

 resort at night to tidal waters on which they rest until 

 daylight. 



Food. This species, though mainly herbivorous, is never- 

 theless destructive to crops of grain, such as wheat and 

 oats, acres of which a flock will devastate in a short space 

 of time. The Bean-Goose, like its congeners, is an expert 

 ' grazer,' cutting the grass with its sharp beak as neatly as 

 if done by a machine. A male sentinel bird is said to guard 

 the flock when feeding, and, until relieved of his duties by 

 another, he does not lower his head to feed. It has been 

 stated that when the sentinel wishes to feed he pecks 

 vigorously at another member of the flock, who seems to 

 understand, from this gentle reminder, that his turn has 

 come to protect the rest. The flesh of this bird is well 

 flavoured and compares favourably with that of other Geese. 



Voice. The voice of this Goose is loud and hoarse, 

 being not unlike that of the preceding species. 



Flight. It is difficult to distinguish this bird on the 

 wing from other * Grey ' Geese, and its flight is equally 

 powerful and sustained. 



Nest. The nest resembles that of the preceding species 

 both in situation and construction. The eggs, about six 

 in number, are dull cream colour. Incubation takes place 

 about the middle of June. 



Geographical distribution. The distribution of the 

 Bean-Goose in the nesting-season extends over a consider- 

 able portion of Northern Europe. It breeds in Sweden, 

 Scandinavia, Norway, Eussia, the Islands of Novaya-Zemlya 

 (where it is abundant), the Yenesei and other Russian rivers. 

 The late Mr. Seebohm found it nesting on the ' tundras ' 

 of the Petchora. On migration, in the cold season, the 

 Bean-Goose visits the European Continent as far south as 



