THE BERNACLE GOOSE. 201 



verified by the slaughter of many Geese. In the mean time I must further 

 confess my ignorance of the habits of the Bernacle. 



Mr. Selbt thus speaks of it in the second volume of his Illustrations: — 

 "The Bernicle is amongst the number of our winter visitants, annually 

 resorting in vast numbers, upon the approach of autumn, to the western 

 shores of Britain, and to the north of Ireland. Upon the Lancashire coast, 

 the Solway Frith, &c. it is very abundant; frequenting the marshy grounds 

 that are occasionally covered by the spring-tides, and such sands as produce 

 the sea-grasses and plants upon which it feeds. Upon the eastern and 

 southern shores of Britain it is of rare occurrence, its place being supplied 

 by its nearly allied congener, the Brent Goose (Anser Brent a); which again 

 is as rarely seen upon the opposite coast of the island. Like the rest of the 

 genus, the Bernicle is a very wary bird, and can only be approached by the 

 most cautious manoeuvres. It is sometimes shot by moonlight, when it 

 comes on the sands to feed, by persons couched on the ground, or from 

 behind any occasional shelter in such places as the flocks are known to 

 frequent. Its flesh is sweet and tender, and highly esteemed for the table. 

 Upon the approach of spring it leaves our shores for more northern countries, 

 and by the middle of March the whole have retired." It is known to breed 

 in Iceland, Spitzbergen, Greenland, &c. as well as in Lapland, the northern 

 parts of Russia, and northern Asia. It also inhabits Hudson's Bay and 

 other polar districts of the American continent. During its equatorial or 

 winter migration, it is abundant in Holland, France, and parts of Germany. 



The eggs, which I describe from specimens deposited in the rich Museum 

 of the University of Edinburgh, measure two inches and seven-eighths by 

 one inch and seven-eighths, and are of a uniform yellowish-cream colour. 



I have represented an adult male in spring, and a female of the preceding 

 year. 



• 

 Anser leucopsis, Bonap. Syn., p. 377. 



Bernacle Goose, Nutt. Man., \^ol. ii. p. 355. 



Bernacle Goose, Anser leucopsis, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iii. p. 609. 



Male, 27, 56. Female, 33|, 52. 



Accidental in North America. 



Adult Male in Spring. 



Bill much shorter than the head, higher than broad at the base, somewhat 

 conical, slightly depressed towards the end, narrowed and rounded at the tip. 

 Upper mandible with the dorsal line sloping, the ridge broad and flattened, 

 the sides sloping, the edges soft and obtuse, the oblique marginal lamella; 

 short, transverse, about thirty on each side, besides minute anterior ones; 



Vol. VI. 27 



