162 BEAN GOOSE. 



their watchful suspicion can only extend to the surrounding hedges, and these will often 

 afford most excellent shelter for the shooter. 



The following curious circumstance is recorded by Mr. Watters, in his "History of 

 the Birds of Ireland." — "A countryman in the county of Longford, having observed, for 

 several successive evenings, a large open drain regularly frequented by flocks of these 

 birds, (Bean Geese,) felt sadly perplexed for the want of a gun, either to beg or borrow, 

 until at last he recollected the existence of an old Spanish gun, which had remained a 

 fixture under the thatch for one half century at least; it was immediately taken down, 

 minus lock and stock, and fastened upon a piece of timber hardly suited for the purpose. 

 Having all in readiness, the same evening he was creeping cautiously against the wind, 

 towards a bank he had erected in the. drain; succeeding in reaching it, the barrel was 

 quietly rested upon it, and a piece of lighted touch-paper, (tinder,) applied to the 

 touch-hole; when, to use his own words, 'she went off beautifully,' so much so, that 

 eleven Geese were lying dead and dying in the drain, whence all were carried to his 

 cot in a sack which he had brought for the purpose." 



It is monogamous. 



Eespecting the habits of the Bean Goose while feeding, Mr. Thompson states, that a 

 relative of his "noted (December 2nd., 1832,) that he saw, through his telescope, a flock 

 of fifteen Wild Geese, feeding in the bog-meadows, apparently on grass. During an 

 hour that he and a companion observed them, they all continued feeding but one, which, 

 acting as sentinel, would look around for a little time, and, if no cause of alarm appeared, 

 would begin to feed; another bird then played a similar part, so that one of the flock 

 always kept on the watch." 



The following interesting account of a tamed male Bean Goose is given by Mr. Thompson : 

 — "At Springmount, near Clough, a male Bean Goose, slightly wounded in the wing, 

 was placed with a flock of Common Geese, from among whom he at once selected a 

 partner, and thenceforth paid no attention to any others of her sex. He was evidently 

 most unhappy when separated from her, even in winter, and on one occasion was the means 

 of saving her life. The cook, being ordered to kill one of the Geese, laid hold of the 

 first that came to hand, which happened to be the Wild Gander's partner, when so 

 remarkably vehement were his cries, that even the uplifted hand of the murderess was 

 stayed; and some members of the family, with others of the household, hurrying to the 

 scene of uproar, the cause of the bird's anxiety was discovered, and the intended victim 

 set at liberty. This was told to me in January, 1838, and no farther attempts have 

 since been made on the fair one's life. In November, 1848, they were removed to a 

 new residence, where they continue apparently as happy as Geese can be. For several 

 successive years after this pair became associated, the Goose laid a full complement of 

 eggs, and sat on them even beyond the usual time; the Gander keeping company at her 



