Barnacle Goose 175 



The following are the only dimensions I know of the eggs of this species :— 



Width 60.4 mm. ( = 2.38 in.). 



Length ....... 94.2 mm. ( = 3.71 in.), 



and these are extraordinarily large for so small a goose. 



In captivity these geese become very tame, and will not only breed, but in exceptional 

 cases will pair with other species. Count Salvadori, for instance, states that he saw in one 

 of the London parks a cross between a barnacle and some other species of goose, which had 

 a great development of the white on its head and yellowish feet. 



Probably the majority of my readers are acquainted with the legend of the origin of 

 this goose from the barnacle [Lepas anatifera), so common on the western shores of Europe. 

 This myth, of very ancient origin, was taken for fact even in the sixteenth century by such 

 well-known writers as Aldrovandi, Gessner, Olaus Magnus, etc., and strange to say, there 

 are places where the coast population, especially fishermen, still does not doubt its truth. 

 The essence of this story, which has many variations, is as follows : — 



In one of the Orkneys, namely, Pomona, on the very shore stands a wondrous tree, 

 at the ends of whose branches grow shells, which at a certain time of year, on falling into 

 the sea, change into barnacle geese. The name of these geese — Bernacle or Bernicle — is 

 identical with that of the shells ; but the latter are not molluscs at all, but belong to 

 crustaceans of the order Cirripedia, family Lepadidce, and species Lepas anatifera of Linne. 

 The crustaceans fasten their calcareous dwellings to various submerged objects, and in 

 particular to piles and planks lying long in the water. This myth refers generally not only 

 to the goose in question, but locally also to the brent and even the scoter. Sir R. Payne- 

 Gallwey writes : l "Absurd to narrate, the old story of brent geese being hatched from 

 barnacles on drift timber is universally current on the coast of Ireland to this day. Nothing 

 will dissuade the fishermen and fowlers ; they will vow they have seen the occurrence them- 

 selves, or that their friends have." 



The same author holds that the flesh of this goose is not edible, while according to 

 others it is delicious. Of course everything depends on the food the birds last fed on ; 

 and their stomachs have been found to contain various vegetable substances, such as Poa 

 distans, Carex bulbosus, Trifolium repens, Ranunculus, etc. It is, however, also known that 

 various kinds of shellfish occasionally serve as their chief food, and then, of course, their 

 flesh is fishy. 



On the waters round the coasts of Holland, the north of France, and the north- 

 west of Great Britain, the barnacle goose usually arrives about the middle of October ; 

 sometimes, if the weather be severe, a little earlier ; it leaves in March. On the waters of 

 Schleswig-Holstein this species is very abundant in winter, keeping mostly near the oyster- 

 beds. On the eastern coasts of England it is a rare visitor, appearing sometimes after an 

 absence of scores of years. In Ireland it is much more numerous than the brent. 



Although a completely marine bird, the barnacle goose often flies to pasture, if the 

 latter be near the sea, which the brent apparently never does. With the latter it is not 

 friendly, and even seems to avoid its company ; in localities where the two live together, the 

 barnacle keeps as far aloof as possible, never mingling with the flocks of brent. 



1 The Fowler in Ireland, p. 159 (1882). 



