I'UM
T he Bean-Goose may be readily distinguished from its close ally the pink-footed «proe# by its more lengthened
bill and yellow leg s ; and both these birds differ again1 considerably in these r e . - i r o n the 1 irey L ag; and
that all three are specifically distinct there can be no doubt. The Grey Lag, a..s it will Imre Wen seen, is a
true resident, being found in one or other part o f the British Islands at all mmkmm of tin? year, which the
others are not. The Bean-Goose comes to us in autumn, and after passing tf*e winter here retires to
other countries to breed, among which may be enumerated Sweden, Norway, and Lapland. Further south
and Cast it has been found in Russia ; I have a specimen which was certainly killed in Western India ; and
Mr. Swinhoe states that the bird visits China in swarms during the cold weather, particularly (he marshes
and the mouths o f rivers in the neighbourhood o f Amoy. So far as is yet known, it dor* not visit. America.
Mr. Stevenson, in his * Birds o f Norfolk,’ regards the Bean-Goose as a much rarer bird thus the Pink-
footed, and considers that the latter has been generally confounded with the former, which I tbiok is very
possible. He remarks, “ The following are the only examples of the Bean-Goose that have come under
mv notice during the last ten years, in marked contrast to the numbers of Pink-footed geese recorded in
my notes during the same period :—one, January 10th, 1861, during a sharp frost; one, November
1862, after an early fall o f snow ; two, January 15th, 1864, during sharp weatherand one on January
1867, a rather mild season. All these birds were sent to our Norwich market; but I was unable to . .
from what part o f the county. From the latter date until the commencement of 1871, 1 had n>>r met •;-
tbis species either at our birdstuffers’ or poulterers’ ; but on the 11th o f January, during the i»te+t«c fin*«
which prevailed at that time, Mr. H. Upcher succeeded in killing one out o f a flock of three that k- fcflni
feeding witlun shot o f a frozen ditch at Blakeney; and on the 11th o f February Mr. Haraond sent tm *
fine adult male, which had been shot at Castleacre on the 9th by Mr. Beverley Leeds.”
Those who may wish to make themselves acquainted with this Goose in a sporting point o f view, will do
well to consult the writings o f the late Mr. Charles St. John for many interesting details which .*t* tknm
given, but which their length does not permit to be transcribed here, especially as, though eMMisat ««
themselves, the following more recent and perhaps fuller account has been published by Mr. R. •. , in hi*
' Birds o f the West o f Scotland ’ •
“ In the Outer Hebrides the Bean-Goose is a common winter visitant, remaining on the o*rtlyi«g roek* «nd
islets, especially in the neighbourhood o f Harris, as late as the beginning of June. Its nest never to
my knowledge been discovered in any part o f the Long Island, although it is stated by Macgillivray that it
frequents the Hebrides in summer. There can be no doubt that his observations on this bird apply to the
preceding species. According to Mr. Selby, the Bean-Goose had been found breeding in several o f the
Sutherlandshire lakes; but recent observers have failed to corroborate his records. There may have been a
mistake in the species here also, a circumstance hardly to be wondered at when it is borne in mind that the
Grey Lag was then supposed to be a comparatively rare bird, whereas it now turns out to be the only native
species inhabiting the north and north-western districts o f Scotland.
“ Mr. Elwes informs me that the Bean-Goose is not uncommon in some parts o f Islay, but that it does not
arrive there till January or February. The flocks are not large, and the birds are very wary. These are
probably from some o f the outer islands, where they have exhausted their feeding-grounds. The movements
o f Geese, indeed, are greatly influenced by this consideration. Throughout the winter months very large
flocks o f this species frequent Montrose Basin at ebb tide, and the adjoining fields when the vast stretch of
mud and sand is covered. 1 have seen many hundreds there, and have recognized them readily from a
passing train at Dubton Junction. On one occasion the birds, although feeding within thirty yards of
the railway embankment, merely ran together with raised heads and stood on the alert until the train
bad gone past, after which they lowered their heads and resumed feeding.
The Bean-Goose is also common in Haddingtonshire, where it frequents wheat-fields, doing considerable
damage sometimes to the sprouting grain. Large and noisy companies resort at nightfall to the open