Goose barnacle migrate, it was thought that barnacle geese, "Branta leucopsis", developed from this crustacean, since they were never seen to nest in temperate Europe, hence the English names "goose barnacle", "barnacle goose" and the scientific name "Lepas anserifera" (, "goose"). The confusion was prompted by the similarities in colour and shape. Because they were often found on driftwood, it was assumed that the barnacles were attached to branches before they fell in the water. The archdeacon of Brecon, Gerald of Wales, made this claim in his "Topographia Hiberniae". Since barnacle geese were thought to be "neither flesh, nor born of flesh",
Goose Goose Geese are waterfowl of the family Anatidae. This group comprises the genera "Anser" (the grey geese) and "Branta" (the black geese)." Chen", a genus comprising 'white geese', is sometimes used to refer to a group of species that are more commonly placed within "Anser". Some other birds, mostly related to the shelducks, have "goose" as part of their names. More distantly related members of the family Anatidae are swans, most of which are larger than true geese, and ducks, which are smaller. The word "goose" is a direct descendent of Proto-Indo-European root, "ghans-". In Germanic languages, the root gave