1/8 THE BEAN GOOSE 



the other species, but it is said by Mr. Selby to ' vary from the Bean 

 Goose in preferring low and marshy districts to the upland and 

 drier haunts of that bird, and in these localities subsists on the 

 aquatic grasses, being very seldom seen to frequent com or stubble 

 fields '. In Norfolk it has frequently been seen associated with the 

 Bean Goose. It has never been observed to remain with us after 

 April, when it betakes itself to the regions bordering on the Arctic 

 circle. In Lapland it is very abundant, and in the fur countries 

 of North America it was seen in spring by Dr. Richardson in large 

 flocks travelling northwards. It breeds in the woody districts 

 skirting Mackenzie's River, and in the islands of the Arctic Sea. 



The white forehead of this bird tends to confirm the opinion 

 maintained by some authors that the common Domestic Goose owes 

 its origin to this species. 



THE BEAN GOOSE 



ANSER SiGETUM 



Folded wings exceeding the tail in length ; bill long, orange, the base and nail 

 black ; upper plumage ash-brown ; the wings darker, edged with 

 greyish white ; under plumage in front dirty white, behind pure white ; 

 irides dark brown ; legs orange ; beak yellowish white. Length thirty- 

 four inches. Eggs white. 



The several species constituting the group to which the Bean 

 Goose belongs resemble each other very nearly in all respects. All 

 are gregarious, fly high in the form of a V, or in an undidating line, 

 uttering repeated cries, which no one who has heard a domesticated 

 Goose can fail to recognize ; they pass the night for the most part 

 on broad flats near the sea, and at early dawn repair inland to theit 

 feeding-grounds. The Bean Goose is, on the authority of Yarrell, 

 next to the Brent Goose, the commonest and most numerous as a 

 species among our WUd Geese. In Scotland it is far more abundant 

 than in England, being seen in large flocks from October to April, 

 especially at the periods of migration to and from its summer 

 quarters. But it does not altogether desert the British Isles during 

 the intervening months. A few are said annually to remain, and 

 breed in the lakes of Westmoreland, and in the Hebrides. In 

 Sutherlandshire, also, many remain all the year — a fact thoroughly 

 ascertained by Mr. Selby, who gives an interesting account of several 

 young broods which he saw on the lochs, some of which he captured. 

 They construct their nests among the tussocks of sedge or grass 

 hiUocks on the islands, and lay from three to four eggs, smaller than 

 those of the Common Goose, but of a similar shape and colour. 



