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Island. Von Middendorff says that the nest he found on the Taimyr was in a hollow in the top 

 of a high tussock close to the river, about two fathoms above the water, and was a mere lining, of 

 old grass-bents and a little down, to the hollow. Von Schrenck saw it on the Upper Amoor ; 

 and Dr. Radde says that it appeared on the Tarei-nor a few days later than the Grey-lag Goose, 

 late in March, and the spring passage lasted till early in May. On the 11th May he saw a flock 

 at Kulussutajeffsk; and the first were seen in the Bureja Mountains on the 25th March (O. S.). 

 In the autumn large flocks were observed in September, and the last on the 7th October. 

 According to Pere David it is by far the commonest of the Geese which visit China in the winter ; 

 and Mr. Swinhoe received two examples from Hakodadi, Japan, where it occurs in flocks. 



Referring to its supposed occurrence in India, Mr. Hume writes (Stray Feathers, i. p. 258) 

 that he has never been able to meet with a specimen killed there, nor with any person who has 

 done so. 



Except that this Goose is said to affect more inland localities, it differs but little in habits 

 from its allies. With us it appears in the late autumn, and remains on our coasts for the winter, 

 usually flying tolerably far inland to feed, and returning to the coast in the evening. These birds 

 are extremely cautious, and carefully examine the surrounding country before they alight; and 

 even then they post a sentinel, who gives notice directly there is the least sign of any danger. 

 They usually feed in large open fields or pastures, and eat tender grass, young wheat, and other 

 plants, as well as grain and the roots of various sorts of grass. 



The Bean-Goose swims with ease, and sits buoyantly on the water ; but it rises on the wing 

 rather heavily, and its flight is not very swift, though direct and steady. Its cry, though harsh 

 when uttered close to one, is by means unpleasant when heard at a distance, and does not differ 

 much from the call of the other Geese. It not unfrequently flies and feeds at night ; but as a 

 rule it prefers to feed at early dawn. 



This Goose certainly breeds in North Finland ; but I never succeeded in finding its nest. A 

 forester, who had taken its eggs, told me that it does not in the least differ from the Grey-lag in 

 breeding-habits, and, like that species, makes its nest in some marshy locality. Mr. Aschan found 

 it breeding in Northern Savolax, and says that on the 15th June he came across a brood of six or 

 seven young ones, with the two old birds, on a small brook in a forest above Hankalampi Trask, 

 and caught two of the former, which he reared. Late in July these birds were nearly full- 

 feathered, and early in August they could fly. They became very tame, and would follow any 

 one so soon as they got accustomed to see people. 



I have eggs of the Bean-Goose which are like those of the Grey-lag Goose, but rather smaller 

 in size, and slightly less rough in grain of shell. 



The present species has been by some authors separated into two forms or subspecies — Anser 

 arvensis and Anser segetum, which have been separated chiefly on account of size ; but as this 

 Goose varies a good deal in size, individuals differing considerably being found in the same flock, 

 this distinction can scarcely hold good, and, indeed, but few of our present ornithologists recognize 

 more than the one species. 



The specimen figured is an adult male from Sweden in my own collection. 



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