402 BEAN-GOOSE. 
where Messrs. Harvie-Brown and Seebohm found it nesting on the 
‘tundras’ of the Petchora, while at Dvoinik, on July 27th, several 
hundred old Geese and about as many young were observed march- 
ing like a regiment of soldiers, most of them being in full moult 
and unable to fly. According to Mr. Trevor-Battye, Admiral 
Markham, Mr. H. J. Pearson, and others, this species is abundant 
on Kolguev, Waigats, and both islands of Novaya Zemlya ; in fact, 
it is the predominating ‘Grey’ Goose on Kolguev (Trevor-Battye), 
and Mr. H. L. Popham makes a similar remark respecting the 
Yenesei. Eastward of about 115° long. in Siberia, the representative 
is A. serrirostris, a larger bird with some tawny colour on the head 
and neck, large flocks of which visit Japan and China in winter. 
Our bird is not known to reach India, but it occurs in Palestine and 
the basin of the Mediterranean, and is common in Russia down to 
the Caspian and Poland; while, though rare in the Iberian Penin- 
sula, it is said to have been obtained in Madeira. 
The nest is built early in June, in a tussock of sedge or upon a 
hillock in an islet ; the eggs, up to 6 in number, are dull creamy- 
white, and are smaller and lighter in weight than those of the Grey 
Lag-Goose: measurements 3'2 by 2°2 in. The Bean-Goose is 
decidedly herbivorous, feeding by day on pastures; and its name is 
probably owing to the long and repeated confusion of this species 
with the Pink-footed Goose, which is graminivorous. Sir R. Payne- 
Gallwey says that Bean-Geese are the slaves of weather ; when frost 
sets in they are driven to the neighbourhood of tidal-waters ; con- 
tinued rain and wind keep them inland; a north wind unsettles 
them; a north-east wind, again, will bring them to the coast in 
anticipation of frost ; a change, and they are on their travels once 
more. He adds that Geese are not very wary at night, nor do they 
appear to possess the power of vision of other wild-fowl. In con- 
finement, this species has bred with the Pink-footed Goose. 
The adult is characterized by its somewhat slender shape, long, 
weak bill—orange in the centre, and 4/ack at the base and on the 
nail—pinkish-yellow legs and feet, and the absence of any black 
on the breast; the general plumage is darker than in the two 
preceding species, and there is no bluish-grey on the shoulder. 
Though less bulky than the Grey Lag-Goose, it is nearly as long, 
being a slim bird: male 33-34 in.; wing long in proportion, and 
averaging nearly 19 in.; weight, 73-8lbs. The female is rather 
smaller. Young birds are generally darker, their markings are less 
distinct, and the neck has a tawny tinge. 
