ous as a species among our wild geese, with the exception- of
the Brent Goose, to be hereafter noticed.
I t has been ascertained that a few Bean Geese breed in
some parts of this country, but the greater portion make their
appearance in September and October, coming from Scandinavia,
and from still higher northern latitudes. From the
greater security against surprise, rwhich an uninclosed country
affords, these birds appear to prefer very large open fields.
The Rev. Richard Lubbock sent me word that immense
flocks are seen in the western parts of Norfolk. I remember
to have seen flocks containing, apparently, several hundreds in
that county, some years ago, in the month of September,
where they feed on the extensive .stubbles; and I have been
told lately, that these birds visit Gloucestershire, and other
parts in the vicinity, of thé Severn, as early as August.
During a n . excursion made by a party of naturalists in
Sutherlandshire, in the summer of 1834, Mr. Selby-, says,
“ we were agreeably surprised tö find that the Bean Goose
annually breeds upon several of the Sutherland lakes. The
first intimation we received of this interesting -fact was at
Lairg, where we were informed-that a few pairs bred upon
some islands about twelve miles up Loch'Shin. We accordingly
took boat thé; following mornings and’, upon arriving at
the place, discovered a single pair, attended by four or five
young goslings.' None were obtained, as the old birds being
wild, escaped, seemingly, uninjured, although repeatedly fired
at, and the goslings immediately dived, and escaped into the
reeds and other herbage... Upon Loch Naver we also found
several pairs attended by their young, seemingly about a
fortnight or three weeks old, one of which, after a severe
chase* we procured. Upon the islands of Loch Laighal, from
thirty to forty pairs, we were informed, annually had their
nests. We saw several old birds, and .the nests that had
been used, which are concealed in heath upwards of three
feet in height, that covers the islands. The eggs were all
hatched, and most of the young had betaken themselves to
the neighbouring moors, where they continue till able to fly,
secreting themselves when disturbed, in the highest heather.
At Tongue we saw some goslings about a month old (following
a hen), which had been hatched from eggs taken at Loch
Laighal. We-were told they became nearly as tame as common'geese,
but refuse to intermix or breed with them. The
eras, from five to seven in number, are smaller than those of
the common goose, but of a similar shape and colour.”
A few pairs it is said, breed annually in Sunbiggin Tarn,
near Orton, in Westmoreland, and the islands of Lewis and
Harris, among the Hebrides, are also named as places regularly
visited by Bean Geese in summer, where, according tó
Pennant, they feed on green com to an injurious extent.
A pair of Bean Geese belonging to the Ornithological Society
of London, have this season produced a brood of five, in St.
James’s P a rk : the young were observed to grow very rapidly.
The egg of a Bean Goose, brought from Norway, and given
me by Mr. Hewitson, is of a dull white; three inches five
lines long, by two inches five lines in breadth. The eggs
produced by the Bean Goose in the park were a little smaller.
The Bean Goose is common during winter in Ireland, and in
North Wales, but is more rare in the southern counties of
England, increasing in frequency on going northward. Mr.
Dann’s note on this species 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 Tomea river in September
; and the young ones are often caught on the islands
at the head of the Bothnian Gulph, and tamed. They arrive
in the south of Sweden the latter end of March or the beginning
of April, and remain about a month previous to their
departure north. During their stay they keep amongst the
dead reeds and rushes, feeding upon the roots and young