136 NATURAL HISTORY [Birds. 



were a sort of deep ash-colour, barred with white and black; 

 the feet were black. 



This is the bird which the ancients imagined to be bred 

 from a shell-fish, the absurdity of which is some time ago found 

 out, — that the fish continues as it was formed, and the bird 

 no doubt is produced according to the ordinary methods of 

 generation. The shell was the Lepas anatifera, Lin. Sys. 668. 

 These shells are sometimes drove in here, adhering to pieces 

 of woodj or tangles, in thousands. 



Species 4. — The Brent Goose. 



Wil. Orn. 360. Raii Si/n. 137. Anas Bernicla, Lin. Sys. 198. Brit. Zool. 



452. Ore. Hoira Goose ? 



I HAVE seen a flock of half a dozen of these in Hoy Sound 

 in winter, which is the only season they appear in Orkney. 



I have often been informed, but never could obtain a spe- 

 cimen, of a bird of the goose-kind which appears in Deer 

 Sound in the fall, and goes off in spring, and, by the general 

 description, I imagine to be this species. 



The name in Deerness is Horra Goose, and is described as 

 a large gray bird, with a black head and hoarse cry. 



