BRENT GOOSE. 29 L 



water leaves the ground exposed, remaining there, if undis- 

 turbed, till the tide flows over the ground again. In such 

 situations the large flocks that frequent certain favourite 

 localities are quite extraordinary. 



Upon the Northumbrian coast, Selby observes that, " a 

 very large body of these birds annually resorts to the ex- 

 tensive muddy and sandy flats that lie between the mainland 

 and Holy Island, and which are covered by every flow of the 

 tide. This part of the coast appears to have been a favourite 

 resort of these birds from time immemorial, where they 

 have always received the name of Ware Geese, given to 

 them, without doubt, in consequence of their food consisting 

 entirely of marine vegetables. This I have frequently veri- 

 fied by dissection ; finding the gizzard filled with the leaves 

 and stems of a species of grass that grows abundantly in 

 the shallow pools left by the tide, and with the remains of 

 the fronds of difi'erent algre, particularly of one, which seems 

 to be the Laver ( ^k'a latissima). In this haunt they re- 

 main till the end of February, when they migrate in succes- 

 sive flocks, as the individuals happen to be influenced by the 

 season, and before April the whole have disappeared. When 

 they depart the same procedure as that mentioned by Wilson, 

 in his American Ornithology, takes place ; the flock about 

 to migrate rises high into the air by an extensive spiral 

 course, and then moves off seaward in a northerly direction." 



In Scotland this species is common on the east side, but 

 on the west coast and islands it is said by Mr. R. Gray to be 

 less abundant and less regular in its visits than the Bernacle. 

 It comes to the Shetlands in autumn, but Saxby considers 

 it too scarce there to have received the local name of ' Horra 

 Goose,' by which it is said to be known in the Orkneys. 

 With these exceptions the Brent Goose is found in abun- 

 dance during winter in suitable localities, round the coasts 

 of Great Britain ; and vast numbers occur in many places 

 on the shores of Ireland. 



On migration the Brent Goose visits the Fseroes, the 

 coasts of Scandinavia, and the shores of Europe generally, 

 down to the African and the Asiatic sides of the basin of 



