318 THE GAME BIEDS AND WILD FOWL 



Siberia, Mongolia, and the valley of the Amoor on migration, and winters in 

 North-east Turkestan, China, and Japan. 



Allied forms. — Anser serrirostris, the eastern form of the Bean Goose; 

 only apparently subspecifically distinct, the two races intergrading. As we have 

 already noticed, in treating of the entire range of both forms, it is an inhabitant 

 of Eastern Siberia from the Baikal district to the Pacific. Typical examples 

 differ from the Bean Groose in being larger, especially the bill and feet (length of 

 bill from frontal feathers to tip 3'4 to 2'4 inches, instead of from 2'5 inches to 

 1"7 inch). The head and neck are buffish-brown instead of brownish-grey. A. 

 brachyrhynchus, a fairly distinct island race, a British species, and A. neglectus, 

 both dealt with in the following chapter. 



Habits. — Great numbers of Bean Geese simply pass along our coasts in 

 autumn for more southern haunts, and repass them on their way north again in 

 spring ; still many remain with us throughout the winter. This species, like most 

 of its congeners, begins to arrive in its northern haunts with the first signs of 

 departing winter. Small parties reach the neighbourhood of the Arctic circle, both 

 in Europe and Asia, during the second half of May, but these are often compelled 

 to retire some distance south again owing to a late frost. When once the great 

 rivers break through their bonds of ice, and the south wind brings summer to the 

 Arctic regions, the Bean Geese arrive in full force, flock after flock pouring in 

 from the south, following in the wake of the open water. As soon as the young 

 are half-grown, and the short summer begins to wane, these Geese again unite 

 into flocks to complete their moult, and then in early autumn the grand flight 

 south commences. In our Islands the Bean Goose lives in flocks of varying size, 

 which wander about a good deal, according to the state of the weather and the 

 supply of food. Some of these gatherings are very large, and at all times difficult 

 to approach, although the birds are certainly less wary at night. The Bean 

 Goose usually frequents the sea and the coast during the night, coming inland to 

 stubbles and fields of newly-sown grain in the day to feed. During long-continued 

 frost they keep more to the coast, but in rough, stormy weather they are more 

 partial to remaining in inland districts, from which, however, they soon depart 

 at the first sign of recurring frost. The flight of this Goose is rapid and strong, 

 and the birds when passing from place to place usually assume a wedge-shaped 

 formation. Its note whilst staying in our Islands is the familar gag-gag variously 

 modulated. Bean Geese when feeding on the inland fields usually post sentinels 

 here and there to give timely warning of the approach of danger. Upon the 

 water the Bean Goose swims well and buoyantly, but it rises with apparent 

 labour with a great flapping of wings until well into the air. The food of this 

 species consists of grass, the tender shoots of grain, and the roots of various 

 plants. In autumn the bird picks up a great quantity of grain of all kinds from 



