5$o BRENT GOOSE. Class II. 



above and below the tail are white ; the tail and 

 quil-feathers black •, the legs black. 



Theie birds frequent our coafts in the winter: 

 in Ireland they are called Bernacles, and appear in 

 great quantities in Auguft, and leave it in March. 

 They feed on a fort of long grafs growing in the 

 water; preferring the root and fome part above 

 it, which they dive for, bite off and leave the up- 

 per part to drive on more. They abound near 

 Londonderry, Bel/aft, and Wexford-, and are taken 

 in flight time in nets placed a-crofs the rivers ; and 

 are much efteemed for their delicacy. The Rat or 

 Roadgoofe, of Mr. Willughby*, agrees in fo many 

 refpe&s with this kind, that we fufpect it only to 

 be a young bird not come to full feathers : the on- 

 ly difference confiding in the feathers next the bill, 

 and on the throat and bread being brown. We 

 have the greater reafon to imagine it to be fo as Mr. 

 Brunnich informs us that the Danijb and Norwegian 

 names for this bird are Radgaas and Raatgaas, 

 which agree with thofe given it by Mr. Willughby. 

 Mr. Willughby, Mr. Ray, and M. Brijfon very pro. 

 perly defcribe the Bernacle and Brent as different 

 fpecies, but Linnxus makes thefe fynonymous, and 

 defcribes the true Bernacle as the female of the white 

 fronted wild goofe. Vide Faun. Suec. 116. 



Page 361. 



(6 



