BEAN GOOSE.
WILD GOOSE.
Anser Jems,
" segetum,
" sylvestris,
Anas segetum,
FLEMING. SELBY.
JENYNS. GOULD.
BRISSON.
PENNANT. MONTAGU.
Anser—A Goose. Ferns—Wild—savage.
THE Bean Goose is plentiful in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and
Lapland, where, as in the Ferroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland, Nova
Zembla, and still higher northern latitudes, it rears its young; it is
found abundantly also in France, Germany, and Holland, Spain and
Italy: in the former countries it breeds. In Asia, too, in the northern
districts.
Its dwelling-places are the borders of inland seas and lakes, rivers
and ponds, swamps and ditches, stubble fields and others. In the
latter they feed in the day-time, and towards evening repair to the
open sands, where they roost during the night after bathing and
drinking.
I n Yorkshire, these birds frequent the wolds in immense flocks, and
seem to prefer those higher grounds to others that are lower and
more marshy. They have been met with also in other places, as at
Sheffield, York, and Ivillingbeck, near Leeds. In Gloucestershire and
Worcestershire, this species also occurs by the river Severn. In
Northamptonshire it is a common visitor, as I am informed by the
Hon. T. L. Powys: so it also used to be in Cambridgeshire, in the
fens, when fens still existed, as recorded by the Rev. Leonard Jenyns.
I n Norfolk, the species is pretty abundant in autumn, winter, and
spring: it also occurs in Lincolnshire, as at Tetney, Alford, etc. In
Cornwall, eight were shot in Falmouth harbour in 1856. In Devonshire,
occasionally in winter; many in that of 1830.