BRENT GOOSE 



281 



white patch near the eye, as well as by its superior size, and its peculiar 

 cry, which has been compared to a coughing grunt. Like the other 

 members of its genus, the barnacle goose is essentially a shore-bird, 

 resting on spits of sand for a large portion of the day, and grazing on 

 the grass of the salt-marshes. Although associating in large companies 

 of their own kind, they do not mingle with other birds : the presence 

 of a flock is indicated by the frequent cackling of its members. At 

 times they go on the water, but seldom swim for long. 



_ . -, The brent goose (Bertiicla branta of many authors), 



Brent Goose ,.,. ^ ^ . ji-, 1 , • -j 



,_ ^ , . 1 X which IS olten confounded with the last, is said to 

 (Branta berniela). . ^ , , r 1 



take Its name from the colour of the plumage of the 



back ; this being comparable to the tint of charred wood, and thus 

 suggesting the name " brent " or " burnt." From the barnacle goose 

 the brent is readily dis- 

 tinguished by the uni- 

 formly smoky black of 

 the head, neck, and breast, 

 with the exception of a 

 small white patch on each 

 side of the neck ; on the 

 back the feathers are 

 blackish grey with lighter 

 edges ; the upper and 

 lower tail -coverts, to- 

 gether with the hind part 

 of the abdomen, are 

 white ; while the tail- 

 feathers and wing-quills 

 are black, as are also the 

 beak and legs. The 

 gander measures about 

 22 inches in length, and 

 weighs from 3|^ to \\ 

 lbs. ; and the goose is 

 distinguishable externally 

 only by her somewhat 

 inferior dimensions. 



Young birds in their first plumage lack the white patches on the sides 

 of the neck, but have conspicuous light edges to the lesser wing-coverts ; 

 while the goslings in down are dark grey above and greyish white 



ARD STUDIOS 



BRENT GOOSE. 



