12 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



Scotland and the north of Ireland ; in the Solway it is less 

 numerous than formerly, and though it used to visit the 

 Cheshire Dee in some numbers it is now only a rare straggler. 

 Its winter quarters are more northerly than those of the Brent. 



The Barnacle, though a marine feeder, is less strictly addicted 

 to salt water than the Brent, for it will feed on marshes and 

 cultivated land bordering bays and inlets. Larger and paler 

 than the last species, its black crown and neck and white face 

 are its noticeable features ; its under surface is greyish white. 

 The first Barnacles arrive towards the end of September, but 

 the bird is stldom numerous until late October ; they leave in 

 March and April, but emigration is often delayed in the north. 

 It is a nocturnal feeder, at any rate on the pastures ; during 

 the day it rests on flats or marshes, but I have disturbed 

 birds which were apparently feeding by day, and the flocks 

 will visit the edge of the saltings to graze. Dr. Patten de- 

 scribes the voice as low and " pl-easing to the ear," though 

 it has been likened to a "coughing grunt," and a gaggle can 

 raise a clanging clamour of sharp yelping cries. Not only is 

 the bird easy on its feet, but it can run swiftly, scampering 

 across the flats with outstretched neck after a companion in 

 anger or play. The flight is powerful and often at a height ; 

 indeed, it is likely that it is at times above the range of vision. 

 When in April, 1913, eighteen birds were killed by lightning 

 in the Solway, Mr. Portal records that none was seen or heard 

 until their bodies crashed to the ground. The name is not 

 derived from its food, though, like the Brent, it will eat molluscs 

 and crustaceans, but from the ancient myth that the ship- 

 barnacles gave birth to gee-e. 



The white face and forehead of the Barnacle is set off by its 

 black cap and neck, and there is a black mark from the bill 

 through the eye. The upper back and breast are black, the 

 lower back and rump brown, but the upper parts generally are 

 lavender-grey barred with black and white. The under parts 



