sands near the Tyne estuary, and retire at daybreak to the Lammermuirs. In Fifeshire its habits are
similar. When travelling through that county in the wiuter-time, I never fail to observe small flocks
coming from the higher grounds in the afternoon and steering for the mouth o f 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’ newly sown beans in early spring throughout the day and, as one o f the fraternity
informed me, « paidliug aboot i’ the mud at nicht: de’il tak’ them.” ’ The Carseland, west o f Stirling, is also
visited by them in great numbers. It is somewhat strange that this species, which is so very common on
all parts o f the east coast o f 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 o f Norway. I have seen it in
vast numbers on the Tornefi 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 o f Sweden at the latter end
of March or the beginning o f 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 Norwegian 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
ravage upon the green corn. Mr. Hewitson says the Bean-Goose was rather numerous upon one o f the
large islands on the west coast of Norway, 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. Vieillot
mentions that one o f the names of this bird in France is ‘ Harvest-Goose ’ (Oie des moissons), from
its frequenting corn-fields, and the destructive effects o f large flocks when feeding upon green corn. Our
name of Bean-Goose is said to have reference to the dark nail on the beak, which in appearance is
considered to resemble a horse-bean; Mr. Selby thinks the name has been suggested by the decided
partiality o f the bird to pulse and grain.
The principal figure in the opposite Plate represents an adult male Bean-Goose, about two thirds o f the
natural size.