BERNACLE GOOSE. 



31 



the southern parts of Russia, particularly about the rivers Don and 

 Wolga, in the banks of which they build their nests, perforating- holes 

 to the depth of half a foot for that purpose. Are said to be gregarious 

 as well in the breeding- season as in their migrations ; excavating the 

 clayey banks so near to each other as to appear like a honeycomb. In 

 the autumn they migrate in large flocks to the more southern latitudes. 

 This species is common in Egypt, where it is eaten for food. At the 

 Cape of Good Hope it is called gnat snapper : and is a guide to the 

 Hottentots in searching for the honey which the bees store in the 

 clefts of the rocks. It probably breeds in Spain and Portugal, as we 

 are assured it is not uncommon about Badajos, where they are observed 

 to fly about in considerable numbers like the swallow ; at Gibraltar they 

 are said to remain only a few hours. The nest is composed of moss ; 

 but, according to Dr. Latham, the eggs, which are six or seven in 

 number, perfectly white, and about the size of those of the stare, are 

 laid upon the bare ground. Its name has doubtless been taken from 

 that insect, to which it is so partial. It also feeds on most winged 

 insects, which it takes on the wing like the swallow. 



BEE EATER (Merops, Linnaeus). — A genus of birds of which 

 only one species is British. 



BEECH FINCH.— A name for the Chaffinch. 



BERNACLE GOOSE (Anser Bernicla, Willughby.) 



Bernicla, Rail, Syn. p. 137. A. 5. — Will. p. 274.— Bris. 4. p. 300, 14.— Ib. 8vo. 

 2. p. 411.— Anas Leucopsis, Temm. Man. 2. 823.— Bechst. 4. 92.— La 

 Bernache, Buf. 9. p. 93. t. 5. — Canada Goose, Albin, 1. t. 92. — Bernacle or 

 Clakis. Br. Zool. 2. p. 577.— Ib. fol. 150.— Arct. Zool. 2. No. 479 — Will. 

 Angl. p. 359.— Hayes, Br. Birds, t. 24.— Lath. Syn. 6. p. 466. 26.— Gen. Hist. 

 10. 258.— Lewin, Br. Birds, 7. t. 242.— Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 20.— Wale. 

 Syn. 1. t. 62.— Lister. Phil. Trans. 15. p. 1159.— F/^n?. Br. Anim. p. 127. 



The weight of this species is between four and five pounds ; the 

 length about two feet and a half. The bill is black and short. The 

 forehead, chin, and cheeks, are white ; from the bill to the eye a 

 black line ; the rest of the head, neck, and upper part of the back, 

 black ; the breast and under parts white ; thighs mottled dusky and 

 white ; black about the knee ; the back, scapulars, and coverts of the 

 wings, barred with black, white, and grey ; a blunt spur or knob on 

 the elbow of the wing ; upper tail coverts white ; rump black ; tail the 

 same ; legs dusky black. 



It is said to retire north as early as February to breed, and is then 

 found in Russia, Lapland, Norway, and Iceland. Has been met with 

 at Hudson's Bay. 



In the darker ages strange accounts were given of the history of this 

 bird, which was supposed to be produced from the bernacle shell ( Lepas 



