400 BRENT GOOSE. 



on the neck forms a nearly complete collar and the black extends 

 to the lower breast ; this species visits Japan. Eastward of 

 Alaska, however, and as far as Greenland, our bird is found ; but in 

 American examples the under parts are somewhat lighter than in 

 birds obtained in Novaya Zemlya &c. Both forms visit the British 

 Islands, but the darker usually predominates on the east coast soutli 

 of the H umber. 



Col. Feilden says that the nest is composed of a good foundation 

 of grass, moss, and stems of saxifrage, with a warm bed of down for 

 the eggs, which are laid by June 21st, and are usually 4 in number, 

 smooth, and creamy-white in colour : average measurements 27 by 

 1*8 in. Both sexes are assiduous in their care of the young. The 

 Brent Goose is a day-feeder ; never diving, but searching on the 

 ooze, or with head and neck extended below the surface of the 

 water in shallow places, for aquatic plants, especially grass-wrack 

 {Zostera viaruia) and laver {Ulva latissinid); whence the local names 

 ' Ware Goose' and ' Road Goose,' i.e., Root Goose ; small crustaceans 

 and marine insects are also eaten. The call-note is a loud cronk, 

 or /lonk, audible at a considerable distance. 



The adult has the bill, head, throat, and neck black, except a 

 small white patch on each side of the latter ; mantle brownish-black, 

 with paler edges, which in August after the moult are tinged with 

 rufous-brown ; quills, rump and tail black, coverts white ; upper 

 breast black ; lower part and belly slate-grey ; legs black (excep- 

 tionally reddish). Length 22-23 i"- '> wing 13 in. Females are 

 rather smaller than males. The young bird has little or no white 

 on the sides of the neck, and the colours are less pronounced. 



The Canada Goose, Bernida canadensis, has been domesticated 

 in this country for more than two centuries, and stragglers are 

 occasionally shot out of the hundreds of unpinioned birds now in 

 existence ; there is, however, no evidence that wild American 

 birds visit us, and it is significant that, although Ireland is the 

 nearest land, its occurrences there are far rarer than in England. 

 The Egyptian Goose, Chenalopex eegyptiaca, is another introduced 

 species, examples of which often wander and are killed : though in a 

 wild state it is not known to cross the Mediterranean. The Spur- 

 winged Goose, Plectropteriis gambensis, was introduced prior to 

 167S, and two examples have been killed in this country ; but there 

 can be no doubt that these had escaped from confinement, for this 

 species is not found wild in Africa to the north of the tropic of 

 Cancer. 



