j6 Geese of Europe and Asia 



having swum about and chattered among themselves, the flocks either swim into the growth 

 along the banks or push out on to the shoals, to spend the time in rest, till the first gleams 

 of the rising sun. Only for want of such spots do scared flocks in rare cases pass the 

 night on open water. 



Bean-geese nest either on the tundra or on the shores of lakes, some species preferring 

 those near woods, for the most part making the hollow for the nest on the top of a 

 tussock of grass. The depression is lined first with grass, generally dry, and above with 

 the bird's own down. 



The number of eggs in a clutch varies from three to six, 1 but I think that sometimes 

 the latter number must be considerably greater. Further information with regard to the 

 eggs will be found in the Appendix. 



In the only geese of this group (M. arvensis) which I have personally observed, in 

 Finland in September and October, the daily life was as follows. At dawn they flew from 

 their night shelter on the shore of the lake to the adjacent fields, and towards ten o'clock 

 returned to bathe in the water (always in the shallowest parts of the lake near the shore), and 

 to rest for an hour or two. After complete quiet and silence in the flock, some of the geese 

 would begin to chatter, at first in a low tone, singly, then the sound increased to a noisy 

 clamour, as if the whole flock was engaged in a wrangle ; at times the entire assembly would 

 rise into the air with a loud cackle, striking the surface of the water with great force on 

 getting up, and after describing a small circle or two in the air, again descending to 

 the spot whence they started, when, little by little, their cries would again subside. About 

 four o'clock, with a fearful and combined din, caused by the blows of hundreds of wings 

 upon the water, the geese would all rise together, sometimes two or three large flocks, that 

 had been resting side by side, and set off once more to the morning grazing-grounds, or at 

 any rate in that direction. If no one disturbed them, the flocks would always journey by the 

 same aerial route. By this manner, having well noted the routes, and having concealed 

 oneself behind shelter on their line of flight, one might with assurance await their return, — a 

 device to which local fowlers of course have recourse. 



In general, this habit of constantly pursuing one and the same line of flight is strange 

 and difficult to explain. It occurs not only among geese, but among many other birds, as, 

 for example, bustards, grey partridges on the southern steppes, swans, etc. I was always 

 struck by this phenomenon, when I lived in a locality where I often saw the passage of 

 birds in great masses, especially during spring migration. It is also interesting to note 

 that these routes sometimes remain constant during a long series of years. 



During the long hours passed in a skiff hidden in a mass of reeds or in a shed, 

 waiting for swans, geese, or ducks, I have often thought over this question, trying to find 

 an explanation. Possibly I have obtained a clue, although it would be premature to 

 disclose inferences founded on incomplete observations of the facts of the phenomenon. 



Bean-geese, mainly M. arvensis, fly pretty freely to decoys, if the latter are not far 

 removed from their line of flight, and thus, owing to their curiosity, often become the 

 victim of the fowler. It is still better if the decoys are provided with live geese attached by 

 strings. This method of taking geese is regularly practised here and there in many parts 

 of Russia, as, for example, on Lake Ilmen, on the Surgut, and in other places, but 

 unfortunately there are hardly any detailed accounts of this form of capture. It seems, 

 however, that it is almost a matter of indifference whether the decoy birds are made to look 



1 Six is a full clutch, e.g. for the yellow-bill (M. arvensis), according to Gobel for Lapland and the Otonets Government. 



