170 BERNICLE GOOSE. 



1853. The person who shot it stated that the flock consisted of nine birds, but that 

 as only seven were seen the following day, some one else had probably shot another. 

 They soon after disappeared entirely. Mr. Rudd states that he never before saw or 

 heard of the Bernicle Goose being obtained in that part of the country. 



In Scotland, it is not uncommon on the shores of the Solway Firth; is procured 

 along the western coast, and is rare in Sutherlandshire. 



In Ireland it occurs pretty regularly, but rarely all along the eastern and southern 

 shores; at Lurgan Green, in the county of Louth, however, Mr. Thompson states, that 

 "immense numbers of Bernacle spend all the year, except the period appropriated to 

 the reproduction of their species; they are about five months absent, from the middle 

 of April to that of September." 



On the continent it is found in all the northern countries, in Germany, France, and 

 Holland, in Iceland and the Ferroe Islands. In Japan, Northern Asia, and probably America. 



As an article of food this Goose is much esteemed. 



In its habits it is more maritime than those species we have already described; it 

 obtains its food, which consists of grasses and maritime plants, upon those parts of the 

 shore which are more or less covered by high tides, salt marshes, and bogs, resting 

 during the day on the retired shores or exposed sand-banks. It is very shy and wary. 

 Mr. Walters says, that "only on one occasion has the Bernacle come under our observation, 

 in January, 1850, when a flock, consisting of twenty birds, passed closely overhead, in 

 the vicinity of the Pigeon House Wall, (Dublin,) all calling in unison; the sound was 

 singularly pleasing, resembling some distant murmuring." 



The food found in the stomach of one examined by Mr. Thompson, consisted of the 

 Irish Shamrock, Trifolium repens, pieces of Ranunculi, and grasses. 



The breeding stations of the Bernicle Goose are at present involved in some obscurity, 

 but Mr. Yarrell suspects the shores of the White Sea may be one. 



In confinement, it has bred in St. James' Park, London. The eggs were white, 

 measuring in length two inches and three-quarters, by one inch and seven-eighths in breadth. 



In the adult the bill, which measures one inch and three-eighths in length, is black; 

 from the bill to the eye a broad line of black. The forehead, over the eye, cheeks, and 

 chin, white; top of the head, nape, neck, and breast, deep glossy black. Back, scapulars, 

 wing coverts, and tertials, french gray, each feather tipped with white, inside which is a 

 black crescent. Rump, black ; upper tail coverts, white ; tail, black. Primaries, black at 

 the tips, shading into gray at the base. Lower breast and belly, silvery white ; side feathers, 

 gray, tipped with white. Thigh feathers, black, tipped witli white. Legs and feet, black. 



In young birds the cheeks have some black feathers. The feathers on the back and 

 wing coverts have the ends tinged with red. Legs not pure black. 



The length of the adult male is two feet one inch. 



