BRENT GOOSE. 425 



may have been one of the members of the flock I had previously 

 observed. 



The Bernacle has been found in inland localities, some of 

 which are mentioned by Alhs ; it is noted in Fothergill's list 

 (" Richmondshire," 1823) ; Mr. E. R. Waite records it in the 

 Western Ainsty (Nat. 1891, p. loi) ; and it has been noticed 

 also at Ackworth, Staveley, East Cottingworth, near York 

 {where Snowdon Sleights, the veteran wild fowler, informs 

 me he has procured several on the Derwent in different years), 

 Slingsby, and Thirsk. 



The individual mentioned as purchased by me in 1883, 

 was kept alive in a walled-in garden where it lived for nineteen 

 years ; during the early portion of its captivity it formed 

 an attachment for a Sheld-Duck, and, in its latter years, had 

 for its master a tame Raven, which kept it in complete sub- 

 jection. This Goose fed readily on grass, but was very partial 

 to corn steeped in water. 



BRENT GOOSE. 



Bernicla brenta {Pallas). 



Winter visitant to the coast, common in some seasons. Occasionally 

 occurs inland. 



The earliest known British information with regard to 

 the Brent Goose is found in Willughby's " Ornithology " 

 {1678), under the head of " Rat or Road Goose — Brentus 

 forfasse," where it is stated that : — " Mr. Johnson, who showed 

 us this bird at Brignall, in Yorkshire, thus describes it [Here 

 follows an accurate description of the Brent]. It is a very 

 heedless fowl (contrary to the nature of other Geese), so that 

 if a pack of them come into Tees, it is seldom one escapes 

 away, for though they be often shot at, yet they only fly a 

 little, and suffer the Gunner to come openly upon them." 

 (Will. " Orn." 1678, p. 361.) 



Thomas Allis, in 1844, wrote : — 



Anser hrenta. — Brent Goose — Is met with at Sheffield ; is shot in 



