liEAN-GOOSE. 
ANSEIt SEGETUM. 
Though it has been asserted by several writers that this species breeds on the British Islands, I have 
been unable to discover any evidence tending to confirm the statement. In every instance wliere I 
visited the moors in the remote districts in the Northern Highlands on which these Geese were said to 
have nested, the birds invariably proved to he Grey-lags. A gamekeeper who looked after a wild 
stretch of mooiland on the borders of Caithness and Sutherland, declared that several pairs remained 
duiing the summer in the vicinity of some of the larger lochs in both counties, and the man resolutely 
refused to he convinced as to the species even after I had carefully examined every bird he pointed 
out through the glasses. During my residence in East Lothian, Bean-Geese frequented the shores 
of the Eirth of Eorth about Aherlady Bay, and also at feeding-time proceeded inland on to the cultivated 
ground near Dirleton, Gullane, and North Berwick. The large flocks of these birds and Grey-lags 
proved so destructive to the young corn, that it became necessary to employ herds to keep them from 
the crops. They take hut little notice of the labourers while at work; hut, though all appear intent 
on searching for food, the slightest sign of danger is certain to attract the attention of the sentinel 
on duty. 
Early in January 1864, while living in that district, I was proceeding one evening to dine with a 
neighbouring farmer when, as I imagined in the gloaming, a large flock of sheep were seen advancing 
over a field of young corn. Well aware that they had no business there, I went cautiously round at the 
hack of the hedge to learn, if possible, where they were breaking through, and on looking over was 
surprised to discover the fiock of sheep transformed into about five hundred wild Geese. I was totally 
unprepared at the moment to fire a heavy ten-hore breech-loader I carried; but before they got out of 
range I succeeded in bringing down two and wounding another, which was captured alive by a sheep- 
dog the following day. Had I known the birds were there, at least ten or a dozen must have been 
bagged, as they rose on wing so closely packed. The two killed were both of this species, though the 
third, which I did not see myself, appeared, from the description given by the shepherd into’whose”hands 
it fell, to he a Grey-lag Goose. I have seen these birds particularly numerous during some winters in the 
grass-marshes in the east of Norfolk; in this locality, the water-dykes being sufficiently wide to be 
navigable by a small punt, excellent sport was occasionally obtained. I noticed that the birds, if feedin- 
out of range in the centre of some of tlie pieces, might now and tlien lie driven by men stationed on 
the marsh-wall; they soon, however, became aware of this stratagem and sought safety in flio-ht on 
the first signs of danger. When tlie weather remains open and the supply of food is plentiful thev 
often attain a great weight-a dozen I bagged on the 27th of December, 1871, on the Holmes Marshes * 
near Heigham Sounds averaging over eight and a half pounds each, tlie heaviest gander just turning the 
The Holmes ilarshcs M ere one of the most noted courhing-grounds in the cast of Norfolk. 
