MRNACLE GOOSE. 



ANSER LEUCOPSIS {Bechst.). 



Anas leucopsis, Bechst. Orn. Taschenb. ii. p. 42 i (1803). 

 Anser leucopsis, Naum. xi. p. 378 ; Heivitson, ii. p. 388. 

 Bcrnicla leucopsis, Macg. iv. p. 622 ; Yarr. ed. 4, iv. p. 286 ; 

 Dresser, vi. p. 397. 



Oie-bernache, Bernache nonnette, French ; Bernakel-Gans, 

 Weisswangen -Gans, German. 



As I know nothing whatever of this bird in a wild 

 state from personal observation, I must refer my readers 

 to more fortunate authors for an account of its habits. 

 It appears that the nesting-habits of the Barnacle Goose 

 have still to be discovered ; it is a winter visitor to our 

 islands, rarely met with on the east coasts, but occasionally 

 very abundant on the west of Great Britain and on both 

 sides of the north of Ireland. In captivity this species 

 thrives remarkably well and breeds freely, but its 

 pugnacity renders it a troublesome neighbour to other 

 nesting wild-fowl. 



