NESTING HAUNT OF THE BARNACLE GOOSE IN SPITSBERGEN 



not see the exact spot, this gave us a valuable clue, and it was encouraging to 

 see the birds on their old breeding ground. After further progress Mr. Jourdain 

 stopped, and, scanning the bastions with his glasses, detected the white patch 

 on the side of the head of a sitting goose. Owing to our plans, Messrs. Jourdain 

 and Gordon had to return to the sloop and I went on to try and obtain some eggs 

 single handed. Keeping my eye on the bastion we had noted, I scrambled up 

 the screes and boulder-strewn side of the valley, and on drawing nearer, saw the 

 goose quite distinctly, sitting on its nest, with the gander standing on guard. 

 After a stiff bit of climbing I found myself within 50 yards of the pair and stopped 

 a moment to notice the beauty of the plumage and characteristic actions. The 

 steel-grey and black feathers of this handsome brant were truly remarkable, at 

 close quarters, standing out against the dull-coloured rock; but perhaps its most 

 distinctive point is the white cheek-patch which gives it the name ' Leucopsis.' 

 Another steep 'pitch' of rocks and I was on the bastion. In a second or two the 

 gander was off, flying away with his deep double-syllabled cry and the remarkable 

 creaking of wings characteristic of the geese. 



The next moment the goose, which had been sitting upright on her eggs, 

 stretched out her neck to its fullest extent on the ground and lay motionless. 

 I stood some twenty paces from her. Then, as I advanced, she got up and flew 

 off. Both birds circled round, with creaking wings and deep cries, and finally 



