294 



ANATID^E. 



with lighter-coloured margins ; vent and under tail-coverts 

 white ; legs, toes, membranes, and claws black, with an 

 olive-green tinge upon the tarsal joint and the upper surface 

 of the toes. A description of a curious variety of this 

 species, with reddish legs, was furnished to Mr. H. Steven- 

 son by Mr. F. Norgate (Zool. 1882, p. 366). 



The whole length twenty-one inches. From the carpal 

 joint to the end of the wing thirteen inches ; the first and 

 second quill-feathers about equal, and the longest in the 

 wing. Females are a little smaller than males. 



Young birds of the year have little or no white patch on 

 the sides of the neck ; head and neck dusky lead-grey ; the 

 feathers of the body edged with brown ; belly and flanks 

 grey, of varying shades. 



The downy nestling was first figured and described by 

 Von Middendorft', One obtained by Capt. A. H. Markham, 

 R.N., in Novaya Zemlya, in July 1876, is greyish-white on 

 the underparts, brownish-grey above, with lores and crown 

 of a darker tint. 



There does not appear to be any authentic record of the 

 breeding of the Brent Goose in captivity, although this 

 species, as well as the Bernacle, are mentioned by Willughby 

 as inmates of St, James's Park in the time of Charles II. 



