Bean-Goose 



1 1 



ornithologist states that the eggs of the bean-goose have yellow blotches on a white ground, 

 only a few of them being pure white. On the basis of 17 eggs from Chernaya Guba, 

 Novaia Zemlia, examined by Mr. Gobel, we get the following table of their measurements 

 and weight. 



In these specimens are combined : — 



Max. breadth 62 mm. (= 2.24 in.), with 86J mm. 



Min. „ 53 „ ( = 2.08 „), 



Max. length 88 „ ( = 346 „ ), 



Min. „ 76 „ ( = 2.99 „ ), 



Max. weight 1680 cgrm., 



Min. „ 1 1 83 „ 



82 



55І 



59 

 62 



53 



= 3.40 in.) length, and 1680 cgrm. weight. 



= 3.32 „ ) „ 



= 2.18 „ ) breadth, 



= 2.38 „ ) „ 



= 2.44 „ ) 



= 2.08 „ ) „ 



1 1 83 ,, 



13 50 „ 



1 140 „ 



86|- mm. ( = 3.40 in.) length. 



82 „ ( = 3.22 „ ) „ 



The means of these figures are : — 



17 eggs : mean breadth 56.2 mm. ( = 2.21 in.) ; max. breadth 59 mm. ( = 2.32 in.) ; min. breadth 53 mm. ( = 2.08 in.). 

 17 n » length 83.7 „ (=3.29,/); » length 88 „ ( = 3.46 „); „ length 76 „ ( = 2.99,,). 



12 „ „ weight 1380 cgrm.; „ weight 1680 cgrm.; „ weight и 83 cgrm. 



When I wrote this, I was unaware that M. neglectus also breeds in Novaia Zemlia. 

 I cannot therefore guarantee that some of the eggs in this list do not belong to the latter. 

 I feel it the more incumbent on me to express that apprehension, lest Mr. Gobel might have 

 drawn up the above table on the evidence of eggs of this " bean-goose/' for which of course 

 he would not be in the least to blame, as he did not himself collect the eggs. The fact that 

 the eggs measured by Mr. Gobel are larger than those even of the yellow-billed goose, 

 coupled with the fact that the bean-goose is less in size than the former, to some degree 

 justifies my fears. 



At present we do not know whether M. segetum has any peculiar habits as compared 

 with the yellow-billed and Sushkin's goose ; but it is probable that no essential differences 

 in this respect exist among the different bean-geese. 



