THE WHITE-FACED BEENICLE GOOSE. 269 



browse upon the grass. WHen tlie service was over, it waited, just 

 like a faithful dog, to take charge of its mistress. One day, when 

 the minister called upon her and found her from home, he 

 expressed his astonishment that the poor blind woman should 

 venture out alone. "Ah, sir," replied her daughter, "we have 

 no fears about her — the Gander is with her." Our blind people 

 would make their fortune if they could replace their traditional 

 dog by a guide of this novel kind. 



The Bernicle, or Tree G^eese, are so called from a foolish tradition 

 of the Middle Ages of their beiag produced from the barnacle shell 

 which attaches itself to ships' bottoms and timber floating in the 

 sea. They differ from the true Geese in having the head smaller, 

 the bill shorter and more conical, the breast-feathers much larger, 

 and in the predominance of black in their plumage, bills, and feet. 

 The plumage is full, very soft, and close. There are several species 

 of Bernicla, which some recent writers have formed into a genus 

 under that somewhat inappropriate name, the best-known species 

 being the White-faced or Bernicle Goose, Anser leucopsis, Tem- 

 miuck, and the Black-faced or Brent Goose, Anser bernicla, of the 

 same author. 



The "White-feonted Bernicle Goose. 



English Synonyms. — Bernicle GroQse: Selby, Montagu. White-faced 

 Bernicle Groose : MoGrillivray. Common Bernicle : Jenyns. CluMs : 

 Selby. 



Latin Synonyms. — Anas hernida : Linn. Anas erythropus : Latham. 

 Anser leucopsis : Temminok, Jenyns. Anser hernida : Selby. Bernicla 

 leucopsis : Bonaparte, McGillivray. 



Ekench Sxnonym. — Oie lernache. 



In its winter plumage this is a beautiful Goose, much smaller 

 than those just described, but with a full body, long neck, and a 

 small, oblong, and compressed head, with soft glossy plumage well 

 blended on the head, neck, and breast. It occurs in considerable 

 flocks in the Outer Hebrides, where it arrives in October, and 

 remains till April. A large flock of these birds sitting lightly on 

 the water, advancing with elevated necks, presents a very beautiful 

 spectacle. Nor are they less handsome on the wing as they shoot 

 through the air, now arranged ia long undulating ranks, at one 

 time extending in the direct line of their flight, at another flying 



