33 



THE BEAN GOOSE. 



Anser segetum, Gmel. (sp.) 

 Anas ,, ,, 



Is a regular winter visitant. 



This is tke wild goose, and the bird to whose English name Aih<ier 

 fenis is often affixed, although this term applies to an entirely 

 different species ; — to the true grej lag. 



The bean goose remains during the winter in suitable localities 

 throughout the island. About Belfast, with its highly culti- 

 vated neighbourhood, little is known of it, except as a passing 

 visitant. 



On the 12th of March, 1846, a flock of ten (their species 

 ascertained by means of a telescope) was seen by an ornithological 

 friend on the north-west side of Devis mountain, behind the 

 town. They were sprung several times, at the height of from 

 800 to 1,000 feet, and an unsuccessful shot was fired at them ; but 

 instead of leaving the mountain, they merely alighted again at 

 an elevated marshy part of it. They were said to have frequented 

 the place during the winter. At the bog-meadows, within two 

 miles of Belfast, flocks of beau geese occasionally alight, and 

 remain for some days ; but persecution soon drives them away. 

 A couple, shot there from a flock of twelve birds, so late as the 

 18th of March (1841), were brought to me. 



A relative noted (Dec. 2, 1 832) that he saw, through his tele- 

 scope, a flock of fifteen wild geese feeding in the bog-meadows, 

 apparently on grass. During an hour that he and a companion 

 observed them, they all continued feeding but one, which, acting 

 as sentinel, would look around for a little time, and, if lio cause 

 for alarm appeared, would begin to feed. Another bird then 

 played a similar part, so that one of the flock always kept on the 

 watch. 



At the King's Moss, a few miles distant from the town just 

 named, a flock of six bean geese was met with by snipe-shooters, 

 on the 4th of Dec, 1849, and one of them killed with snipe-shot 



VOL. III. D 



