2l6 British Birds, 



SNOW GOOSE— (6^//^;^ hyperhoreus). 



Of rare occurrence, and, it is believed, in Ireland 

 only. 



RED-BREASTED GOOSE— (5^r;7/<r/^ ruficollis ; 

 formerly, Aiiser ruficollis). 



A very rare species, and one of vrhich but little is 

 known as to history or habits. 



BERNICLE (^OO'^'^—iBernida leucopsis ; 

 formerly, Anser leucopsis). 



Another winter visitor ; often appearing in great 

 flocks, but always retiring to the north again to breed. 

 It is supposed to frequent the shores of the White Sea 

 especially for such purpose. 



BRENT Q^OO'^Y.—Bernicla brent a ; formerly, 

 Anser brent a). 



Black Goose, Ware Goose. — By far the most numerous 

 of all the geese which visit our shores in winter, as it 

 is also the least. I have seen it in inconceivable 

 numbers on the Essex coast in hard winters, and the 

 numbers reported to have been killed at one discharge 

 of a heavy punt-gun seem simply incredible. In the 

 very hard and long-continued winter of 1837-38, 1 saw 

 the ice, which, in broken fragments of four or five feet 

 square by three or four inches thick, covered the 

 whole estuary of the Blackwater at Tollesbury (a space 

 of very considerable width), black with them during 

 highwater. The expression made use of by one of thf*- 

 sea faring men of the neighbourhood was, " There are 



