i;6 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF 



Family ANATIDtE. Genus Bernicla. 



Sub-family ANSERIiV^. 



WHITE-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE. 



Bernicla brenta glaucogaster {BreJwi). 



(British : Uncommon autumn and winter migrant.) 



Single Brooded. Laying season, June. 



Breeding area : Northern Nearctic region. The 

 White-bellied Brent Goose breeds across Arctic Aoierica 

 on the coasts and islands lying north of lat. 72° from the 

 Arctic Archipelago east to Greenland and north as far 

 as land is known. Captain Feilden met with this Goose 

 breeding near Knot Harbour in lat. 82^°. 



Breeding habits: The White-bellied Brent Goose 

 arrived at its breeding grounds at Knot Harbour on 

 the 9th of June, and shortly afterwards the male and 

 female were observed rising to a great height in a spiral 

 course toying with and chasing each other. This bird 

 is gregarious during winter and whilst on passage, and 

 even in the breeding season continues somewhat social, 

 numbers of pairs nesting in close proximity. The nests 

 were either made on the hillsides, between the snow-line 

 and the sea, or were placed on an island beyond the 

 line of open water, separated from the mainland by 

 rough hummocks of snow and ice. The nests were in 

 hollows and composed of grass, moss, and saxifrages, 

 warmly lined with down. The male is very assiduous 

 in keeping guard over the nest, ready to give the alarm 

 to the female or to defend her and it from enemies. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of the White-bellied Brent Goose are four or 

 five in number. They are somewhat fine in grain, 

 rather polished, and creamy-white. Average measure- 



