sands near the Tyue estuary, and retire at daybreak to tlie Laminermuirs. In Fifeslure Its liahits are 
similar. When travelling through that county in the winter-time, I never fall to observe small flocks 
coming from the higher grounds in the afternoon and steering for the mouth of the Eden, near St. Andrew’s. 
Mr. Harvie Brown, writing from Stirlingshire, says : — ‘ It is our commonest Goose on the east coast, 
punishing the farmers’ neudy sown beans in early spring throughout the day and, as one of the fraternity 
informed me, “ paidling aboot i’ the mud at nicht : de’il tak’ them.” ’ The Carseland, west of Stirling, is also 
visited by them in great numbers. It is somewhat strange that this species, which is so very common on 
all parts of the east coast of Scotland, should only be an uncertain winter visitant in Orkney.” 
Mr. Dann’s note on this species, communicated to the late Mr. Yarrell, is as follows : — 
“This Goose is said to be very numerous on the north-west coast of Norway. I have seen it in 
vast numbers on the Tornea river in September ; and the young ones are often caught on the islands 
at the head of the Bothnian Gulf, and tamed. They arrive in the south of Sweden at the latter end 
of March or the beginning of April, and remain about a month previously to their departure north. 
During their stay they keep amongst the dead reeds and rushes, feeding upon the roots and young shoots. 
I have never seen this Goose upon the coast in winter ; but, as before stated, it is reported to breed in 
great numbers on the Noiwvegian coast.” Professor Nilsson says that the Bean-Goose is the most common 
species in Sweden, and is also spread over Finland, breeding upon the islands and committing great 
raA^age upon the green corn. Mr. Hewdtson says the Bean-Goose was rather numerous upon one of the 
large islands on the west coast of Noiwvay, near the Arctic circle, where it had been breeding during the 
previous month. M. Temminck says the Bean-Goose is abundant in Holland, Germany, and France, but 
is more rare in the central portions of Europe. It is found also in Spain, Provence, and Italy. M. \ ieillot 
mentions that one of the names of this bird in France is ‘Harvest-Goose’ (Oie des molssons), from 
its frequenting corn-fields, and the destructive effects of large flocks when feeding upon green corn. Our 
name of Bean-Goose is said to have reference to the dark nail on the beak, wflilch in appearance is 
considered to resemble a horse-bean ; Mr. Selby thinks the name has been suggested by the decided 
j)artlallty of the bird to pulse and grain. 
The principal figure in the opposite Plate represents an adult male Bean-Goose, about two thirds of the 
natural size. 
