GEESE-PRODUCING TREES. 
197 
of the fish, and the final separation of the winged creature 
from its parent stem, as it were, to soar away rejoicing in 
its freedom. The notion seemed to be that they grew from 
BERNACLE GOOSE. 
the wood of trees, which bent their branches into, or whose 
trunks stood in the water; hence they have been called 
Tree Geese. It is only within the last two or three cen- 
turies that even the learned have altogether rejected this 
foolish notion, which yet prevails to some extent among the 
illiterate. The generic name, Bernicla^ was first applied to 
certain species of Geese by Stephens, and Macgillivray 
retains it, although under protest, simply because he cannot 
find a better. 
The Bernacles are described as differing from the True 
Geese only in having smaller heads, shorter and more coni- 
cal bills, the feathers of the neck not arranged in grooves and 
ridges, those of the breast much larger, and having a pre- 
dominance of black in their plumage, bills, and feet. Their 
habits are much like those of other Geese, than which they 
are, perhaps, more active and lively. There are three 
British species, of which that styled leucojisis, meaning 
white-faced, is the largest. It is twenty-seven inches long, 
has the back of the head and neck glossy black, contrasting 
beautifully with the white throat, fore part p.nd sides of the 
