BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 229 



The Brent Goose {Bernicla brenta, Brisson) is a common 

 autumn and winter migrant to the British Isles. It inhabits 

 the Arctic portions of the Palearctic Region, and in autumn 

 migrates as far to the south as the Mediterranean. The 

 adult has the feathers on mantle blackish-brown, margined 

 with paler ; crown, neck, chest, wings, rump, and tail- 

 feathers, black ; on each side of the neck is a patch of 

 black and white ; sides of rump and upper tail-coverts, 

 white ; lower breast and belly, dark grey, margined with 

 lighter ; vent and under tail-coverts, white ; irides, dark 

 brown; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, from twenty- 

 two to twenty-three inches. The young are duller in colour, 

 and show very little white on the neck spot. 



