THE BEAN GOOSE 315 



the autumn, and is to be seen in numbers on some of our 

 coasts all through the winter. In cold weather it is 

 fairly common on the mainland of Scotland. From 

 autumn to spring it is found in all parts of Ireland, and 

 is the commonest of the inland feeding Geese. 



"Very awkward mistakes, and sad ones too some of 

 them, have been made sometimes when these birds have 

 been feeding on the saltings and marshes close to the 

 tide, for at certain seasons the Geese will feed at night 

 and then is the time to go after them. On one occasion 

 a fowler shot his horse by mistake, and at another time 

 a man shot his own son. Such incidents were once 

 only too common. Fowl, feeding at night, bunch 

 themselves up, taking strange shapes, and when 

 alarmed they run before flighting, but they are not 

 very wary, nor have they the keen sight of other 

 wild fowl." 



" Gabble-retchet " is the term applied to the cry of the 

 Geese on flight. An old proverb says : "Its aye fine 

 when the Goose honks (or cries) high." This in the 

 Eastern States of America has been corrupted into : 



It's aye fine when the goose hangs high," and is often 

 taken as meaning when there's plenty in the larder. 



This Goose is 34 inches in length. The beak is black, 

 the knob of it being orange-coloured, as is also a broad 

 oblique stripe on the nostrils. The points of the wings 

 when folded extend over the tail. The prevailing colour 

 is brownish-grey ; the edges of the feathers and the 

 breast lighter. The flight feathers are dark brown, so 

 are the eyes, legs reddish-brown. 



