The Bean Goose. ^ 



In Ireland, however, the case is very different. Sir R. Payne Gallwey considers 

 "it is by far the commonest species, and may be seen in enormous 'gaggles' for 

 six months every year. It is essentially an inland feeder, on bogs and meadows ; 

 but will fly to the mud banks, and slob of the tides, at dusk, to pass the night. 

 These Geese frequent every bog and marsh in Ireland, which afford security from 

 molestation. They are always found inland in large numbers, save in frost, when 

 they fly down to the meadows and soft green reclaimed lands that lie near the 

 tide. A small proportion will, in the wildest weather, frequent the mud banks to 

 feed and rest. They usually quit their inland haunts at dusk, disliking to remain 

 on land by night, where dogs, men, or cattle, may disturb them, and accordingly 

 fly to the estuaries to rest and feed. At first dawn they again wing inland, and 

 pass the day in open, unapproachable ground." In the south of Ireland, according 

 to Mr. Ussher, it is less plentiful than the White-fronted Goose. 



Regarding its Buropean range, the Bean Goose is a more northerly species 

 than the Grey Lag ; it is only an occasional visitor to Iceland, and in Scandinavia 

 does not breed south of lat. 64° In the breeding season it is found across the 

 whole of high northern Kurope and Asia, from Norway to Japan. In eastern 

 Asia it has been separated as A. grandis, from its larger size. Von Heuglin 

 found it plentiful in Novaya Zemlja., migrating south about the middle of September. 

 In 1895, Mr. H. T. Pearson saw it and the goslings in Russian Lapland, also in 

 Novaya Zemlya, in July of the same year. Mr. A. Trevor-Battye says in Kolguev 

 it exceeds the White-fronted Goose by at least three to one, and is the Grey 

 Goose of that island. 



Skins of Anser segetum were brought back to Copenhagen by the Danish 

 expedition in 1891-92, where it was found breeding. It has not been recognized 

 in India in winter. 



The eggs are three to four in number, dull white in colour, and are buried 

 in the grey down from the parent's breast. 



The Bean Goose is altogether a darker bird than the Grey Lag, and has no 

 grey-blue on the wing-coverts. It may readily be distinguished from Anser 

 brachyrhynchus by its long and somewhat weak bill, black at the tip and base, and 

 orange-yellow in the centre ; legs and feet yellow.* It is also rather the larger 

 of the two. Old birds, both of this species and the Grey Lag-Goose, have white 

 feathers at the base of the bill. The Bean Goose has been known to live twenty- 

 six years in captivity. 



* Mr. Haigh says— feet, legs, and beak pale yellow when fresh shot, the latter black at base and tip; 

 weight 7 to 8J lbs. 



