BIRDS OF THE MARSH AND LAKE 403 



states, however, that this latter pecuHarity is not 

 always to be relied on. 



The Bernacle and the Brent Geese have also 

 certain characteristics in common, inasmuch as 

 both have black feet and are altogether of a blacker- 

 grey hue than any of the preceding species. They 

 are at once set apart, however, bv the fact that the 

 face of the Bernacle is pure white, whereas in the 

 case of the Brent, the whole of the head and neck 

 is black, save that the neck is relieved with a small 

 band of white. In addition the Brent is much 

 smaller in size, being the smallest of the British 

 Geese. Both species occur in winter, sometimes in 

 considerable flocks, the Brent m(jre commonly. 

 Indeed, the Brent is the most numerous of anv of 

 the species which visit the British Isles. 



Swans 



Four species of Swan are given as British. Of 

 these Bewick's and the Polish Swans are of the 

 rarest occurrence. Of the remaining two, the 

 Whooper and the ]\Iute Swan, the former visits 

 these islands more or less irregularly in winter. 

 The i\Iute Swan is the common domesticated 

 species, and there is no doubt that many shot in 

 this country are merely escaped birds from some 

 ornamental water. At the same time, seeing that 

 the INIute Swan, in a perfectly wild state, breeds 

 in parts of Sweden and Denmark, it is highly prob- 

 able that occasional stragglers reach these coasts. 

 This bird, so well known for its peculiar grace and 



