BERNACLE GOOSE. 
31 
the southern parts of Russia, particularly about the rivers Don and 
Wolg-a, 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^ Lixn^us). — A genus of birds of which 
only one species is British. 
BEECH FINCH. — A name for the Chaflinch. 
BERNACLE GOOSE {Anser Bernicla^ Willughby.) 
Bernicla, 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.— 16. fob 150.— Arct. Zool. 2. No. 419— 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. — Flern. 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 aljout 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 
