Family ANATID.f^. Genus Anser. 



Subfamily Anserine. 



BEAN GOOSE. 



ANSER SEGETUM— ((?7«^//«). 



Geographical Distribution. — British .• Common visitor on 

 spring and autumn migration, most abundant during the latter, 

 but great numbers remain to winter in our islands. Not known 

 to breed in any part of the British area. Widely dispersed on the 

 mainland of Scotland and some of the adjoining islands, but only 

 a straggler to the Orkney and Shetland Islands, and on the Outer 

 Hebrides it appears to be quite unknown. In England it is most 

 frequent on the southern and western coasts south of Lancashire, 

 becoming rarer on the east ; whilst in Ireland it appears to be 

 generally distributed and abundant, but less common on the 

 southern coast than the White-fronted Goose. Foreign : Northern, 

 and at high elevations, central Palsearctic region ; southern 

 Patearctic region in winter. Accidental in Iceland. Breeds in 

 Scandinavia north of lat. 64°, in North Russia as low as 

 Archangel, in the delta of the Petchora, on Nova Zembla, in the 

 valley of the Yenesay above forest growth, and southwards on the 

 mountains of the Baikal district, eastwards to the Stanavoi 

 Mountains, and the Arctic tundras of Eastern Siberia northwards 

 to the coast. Passes Europe south of the limits already given to 

 winter on both shores of the Mediterranean (with the exception 

 of North-east Africa) ; but in mild winters many remain on the 

 coasts of Denmark and France, and more rarely those of Spain, 

 whilst it has been known accidentally to wander as far south as 

 Madeira. Vast numbers also winter in the south of Russia and 

 in the basin of the Caspian. Further east it passes South-west 



