186 Wild Birds and their Haunts 



THE BRENT GOOSE (ANSER BRENTA). 



THE Brent is also a winter visitant ; most numerous 

 on the eastern coasts of Scotland and England. 

 On the north-eastern shores they are entirely 

 maritime, not being known to leave the water mark, or 

 even to feed on the pastures or young grain. During ebb- 

 tide they feed on the banks of Zostera Marina, then un- 

 covered, the " ulva latissima " having oft-time been 

 found in the stomachs. At other times they rest on the 

 sandbanks, which are quite open, and afford no shelter for 

 approach ; or they ride, as it were, just off the land, 

 buoyant upon the wave, and occasionally pluck the sea 

 grass or weeds, which are yet borne up within their reach. 



During the feeding-time, or when resting, they are 

 clamorous, and a flock is heard at a considerable distance 

 from the regularity of the call of all the members, which 

 is simultaneously kept up. They are also extremely wary, 

 and most difficult to approach openly ; and from expe- 

 rience it is best to obtain shots, either at night by lying 

 in wait in the line of the flight, or by coasting in a punt on 

 a day when the wind is favourable, when they may either 

 be ' ' run into," or watched for in the range of flight. 



The geographical range is northwards ; we have it in 

 Northern Europe, Iceland, Hudson Bay, Greenland, and 

 Nova Zembla. 



The head, neck, and upper part of the breast are dull 

 black, on the sides of the neck, an interrupted patch of 

 white ; back, scapulars, rump, and under parts anterior to 

 the legs clove-brown, paler on the latter, each feather 

 having the tips and margins of a lighter shade ; flank 

 feathers tipped with white ; vent, upper and undeT tail- 

 covers, the latter exceeding the tail in length, pure white ; 

 tail clove-brown ; quills and secondaries, blackish-brown ; 

 bill, legs, and feet black. 



The sexes do not vary much in plumage. 



In size the male is said to be slightly the bigger. 

 During the winter — after Christmas — they are very 



