BBENT GOOSE 231 



Channel Islands ; it is, however, most abundant on the north-east 

 coast of England. In most years old and young birds arrive to- 



Fig. 76 — Brent Goose. ^ natural size. 



gether in flocks ; in other years only adults appear, and it is supposed 

 that in such seasons exceptionally cold weather has prevented the 

 eggs from hatching. The brent differs from its nearest ally, the 

 barnacle goose, in its slightly smaller size, darker plumage, which 

 is nearly black, and its more marine habits. With us it spends 

 most of the time out at sea, visiting the tidal flats early and late in 

 the day, and at night, to feed on the wrack grass (Zoster a marina). 

 Mr. Abel Chapman has graphically described this goose in his ' Bird 

 Life on the Border.' It is, he says, the last of our winter visitors to 

 arrive, seldom coming in force rmtil the new year. Their affections 

 are so hyperborean that they will come no farther south than they 

 are actually compelled by food requirements, being driven reluctantly 

 southwards, point by point, before the advancing line of the winter's 

 ice. He writes : * On alighting at the feeding-grounds the geese at 

 once commence greedily to pull up and devour the blades of the 

 sea-grass, the whole flock advancing in the closest order over the 

 green oozy mud, all heads down except the sentries, of which an 



