BEAN GOOSE. 163 



side during the interesting period, but, unfortunately, no issue appeared. On a subsequent 

 year, the Goose sat closely on an empty nest in the bog, her partner never leaving the 

 immediate vicinity, and guarding her most courageously. To test his courage, a person 

 once lifted the Goose off the nest, and threw her into the water, when her brave and 

 faithful partner instantly advanced, making a loud, hissing noise, and, flying at the 

 offender, struck him with his feet and wings with all his might. 



During the last summer, (1849,) the Goose laid a few eggs, but was too much disturbed 

 by dogs to incubate them long. To the calls of his wild brethren passing overhead, the 

 Gander habitually replied; and, in one instance, it was feared he had bade adieu to the 

 place, as he took wing and joined a flock high in the air; but, after holding a little 

 converse with them, he returned, like a true lover, to his mate. This Gander, perhaps 

 in right of a higher descent than his associates, who merely 'walk the earth,' at once, 

 when put with the Common Geese, took the lead of the herd, sometimes numbering fifty 

 or more, always heading them, and keeping about two yards in advance. None of the 

 tame Ganders had ever the bad taste to dispute the chieftainship with him, and he proved 

 a trustworthy guardian, as when his associates made an occasional sally into a corn-field, 

 he took his station on the fence, and sounded an alarm when the enemy was seen 

 approaching." 



The food of the Bean Goose is, as we have before said, corn of all kinds, and the 

 young and tender shoots of corn, grass, and, as noted by Mr. Thompson, the leaves of the 

 Irish shamrock; he also states that others were killed which had been feeding on the 

 hips or fruit of a small species of mountain rose. Watercress was also eaten by another. 



The nest is placed upon the small islets, both in inland lakes and also near the sea- 

 shore. Mr. Selby says, speaking of the islets in Loch Laighal, "We saw several old 

 birds, and the nests that had been used, which are concealed in heath upwards of three 

 feet in height, that covers the islands. The eggs were all hatched, and most of the 

 young had betaken themselves to the neighbouring moors, where they continue till able 

 to fly, secreting themselves, when disturbed, in the highest heather." The young birds, 

 when they take to the water, are very expert divers, and are with difficulty captured, 

 even by the aid of a boat. 



The eggs, which are from five to seven in number, are of the same colour as those 

 of the Gray -Lag Goose, but of a larger size, measuring three inches and five lines in 

 length, by two inches and five lines in breadth. 



A hybrid brood between the Bean Goose and the Pink-footed Goose was produced 

 in St. James' Park, London, as mentioned by Yarrell. 



In the adult the bill, which is two inches and a half long from the gape, is orange 

 yellow; the base, edges, and nail, black; head and neck, yellowish brown; back and 

 scapulars, brownish gray, the feathers edged with grayish white ; rump, dark brown ; upper 



