BAENACLE GOOSE.
ANSER LEUCOPSIS (Bechst.).
Anas leucopsis, Bechst. Orn. Taschenb. ii. p. 424 (1803).
Anser leucopsis, Naum. xi. p. 378; Hewitson, ii. p. 388.
Bernicla leucopsis, Macg. iv. p. 622; Yarr. ed. 4, iv. p. 286;
Dresser, vi. p. 397.
Oie-bernache, Bernache nonnette, French; Bernakel-Gans,
Weisswangen -Gans, German.
As I know nothing whatever of this bird in a wild
state from personal observation, I must refer my readers
to more fortunate authors for an account of its habits.
It appears that the nesting-habits of the Barnacle Goose
have still to be discovered; it is a winter visitor to our
islands, rarely met with on the east coasts, but occasionally
very abundant on the west of Great Britain and on both
sides of the north of Ireland. In captivity this species
thrives remarkably well and breeds freely, but its
pugnacity renders it a troublesome neighbour to other
nesting wild-fowl.
