364 



Young. Differs from the adult only in having the head and neck tinged with dull rusty yellowish, and the 

 upper parts altogether paler. 



Obs. The male is, as a rule, rather larger than the female, and has a longer and rather stouter bill. 



The Bean-Goose inhabits Europe and Asia, breeding in the high north, and migrating south to 

 winter in Southern Europe, straggling even to North-west but not to North-east Africa ; but it is 

 not found in America. 



In Great Britain it only occurs on passage, and in the winter season ; and though Yarrell 

 states that it breeds in Scotland, the Hebrides, and Westmoreland, subsequent researches tend 

 rather to disprove this statement than to confirm it. With us it generally appears in September 

 and October, and is sometimes seen in large flocks, especially in open portions of the country, 

 which it appears to affect. On the coasts of Norfolk it is often numerous ; and on the coasts of 

 Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, Mr. Cordeaux says, large flocks often come with wonderful regu- 

 larity at daybreak to their favourite feeding-grounds inland on the Wolds, returning at dusk 

 towards the coast. In the autumn and spring it visits Northumberland and Durham, and is, 

 Mr. Hancock says, " usually seen in considerable flocks, flying in lines. Berwick Hill, in the 

 neighbourhood of Prestwick Car, was a favourite haunt of this species ; and I understand it is 

 still seen occasionally there feeding in the stubbles." In Scotland it is common in the winter 

 season throughout the country in suitable localities near the coast, and remains in the Outer 

 Hebrides to the beginning of June, but, Mr. Gray says, has never been known to breed there. 

 Mr. Elwes states that it does not arrive in Islay till January or February, and the flocks are not 

 large, but the birds are very wary. On the east coast of Scotland it is the commonest species ; 

 but it is said to be a very rare visitant to Orkney and Shetland, and Dr. Saxby remarks that he 

 only met with it, in small flocks, twice in Unst and once in Yell. 



In Ireland, as in England, it is found regularly during the winter/leaving at the approach 

 of spring and returning again in the autumn. It does not appear to visit Greenland, but occurs 

 in Iceland; for Professor Newton states (Ibis, 1864, p. 132) that Mr. Proctor received three or 

 four examples from there. 



In Scandinavia the Bean-Goose is widely distributed ; but, according to Mr. Collett, it 

 rarely, if ever, breeds in Norway south of 64° N. lat., though it nests commonly from Helgeland 

 northwards to the Russian frontier, chiefly in the interior. In the south of Norway it occurs 

 only on passage, when large flocks are seen, and in the autumn a few remain as late as October. 

 Mr. Collett adds that "in Finmark this species would appear to breed less abundantly than 

 Anser cinereus, and probably in the interior only. Its range, however, cannot yet be defined 

 with accuracy. Both this series and the form Anser arvensis are recorded by Sommerfelt and 

 Nordvi as breeding abundantly in East Finmark. Barth has observed it breeding in West 

 Finmark, at Karasjok, where he came across a whole brood July 28th 1857, four of which, of 

 the size of a Teal, were bagged. The young birds are splendid divers." 



It only occurs on passage in Sweden, except in the extreme north, but is common both in 

 the spring and autumn, remaining in Skane until October. In Finland, Dr. Palmen says, this 

 Goose breeds in about the same range as the Swan, viz. from the high north down into the 



