![A very green five-branched tree with each branch topped by a three-leaved shamrock on a manuscript page. Three of the branches have bird heads emerging from egg-like bulges and two other branches have brown-striped and tailed geese hanging from their by their tails (although they don't seem to be attached to the branches in any way). Two mature brown-striped and tailed geese, with blue wash over their bodies, are floating on the water below the tree. The geese also have brown necks and their beaks are very rounded, seeming to smile. Image from British Library, Royal MS 13 B VIII [Topographia Hibernica / Expugnatio Hibernica / Itinerarium Kambriae], folio 8v.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:hmq6dpbhsfnbzqxa6mrixd5i/bafkreidtui4vkbzwovk2m3i7zgjwstmhmfmclksay44rbvf3kksef5kfce)
A very green five-branched tree with each branch topped by a three-leaved shamrock on a manuscript page. Three of the branches have bird heads emerging from egg-like bulges and two other branches have brown-striped and tailed geese hanging from their by their tails (although they don't seem to be attached to the branches in any way). Two mature brown-striped and tailed geese, with blue wash over their bodies, are floating on the water below the tree. The geese also have brown necks and their beaks are very rounded, seeming to smile. Image from British Library, Royal MS 13 B VIII [Topographia Hibernica / Expugnatio Hibernica / Itinerarium Kambriae], folio 8v.
These particular barnacle geese are from the third version of "Topographia Hibernica" created under the supervision of the author, Gerald of Wales (c1146-c1223). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #barnaclegoose #barnaclegeese
![A dead white/pale grey bird on its back on a rock beside a lopsided tree with one full branch and one missing branch. There is a red background and a gilt frame on three sides. There is gothic text above the image and the manuscript page is very dark and appears to have been creased/folded. Image from Lippische Landesbibliothek, Ms. 70 [Der Naturen Bloeme], folio 54r.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:hmq6dpbhsfnbzqxa6mrixd5i/bafkreia3iagwruawwsqfnz4oevlllplhs6m3mkm344ieneq6al647fp2oy)
![A stylised tree with blue and red flowers has black birds hanging from it by their beaks. Some of the birds appear to be stuck in the flowers. The tree is on a knob of ground with its branches hanging over greenish waves. There is a gilt rectangular background in the centre of the image and then a red background decorated with white shamrock-style outlines. It is framed by a three-sided blue outline and then a white decorated red square. Image from Bodleian Library, MS. Bodley 764 [Bestiary (Second Family)], folio 58v.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:hmq6dpbhsfnbzqxa6mrixd5i/bafkreidspkzqzisrgkf5rozothoaz4jigzk7mubcycwbxihktlcemtrne4)
![A pale gilt square frame with four red petals at each corner surrounds an image of a tree with five white birds hanging from it by their beaks. Two larger white birds are floating on the green wave beneath the tree. The image has a red background and the tree trunk is a darker red. The birds' feathers are drawn with black ink squiggles. Image from Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal, Ms-3516 [L'Image du monde / Bestiaire of Pierre de Beauvais], folio 205r.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:hmq6dpbhsfnbzqxa6mrixd5i/bafkreihpqqm7gauobdjntp7ososw4cyiytcachuxxpdkwpjxpra3porgb4)
