THE BERNICLE GOOSE. 481 



representations, may be seen in Aldrovand, and Michael 

 Meyer, who wrote even a whole book about the tree-bird ; 

 for my part I am firmly of opinion that the whole is false 

 and fabulous." 



THE BEENT BEENICLE. 



ANSER TORQUATUS. 



Head, beak, neck, breast, feet, quills, and tail, black; on each side of the 

 neck a patch of white with a few black feathers intermixed ; upper plumage 

 dingy ; all the tail-coverts white ; belly brownish grey, barred on the flanks 

 with greyish white. Length twenty-one inches. Eggs greyish white. 



The Wild Geese which we have hitherto been considering 

 feed on grass, clover, and grain, in quest of which they 

 resort to inland marshes, meadows, and arable land ; but 

 the Brent is a decidedly marine bird. During its annual 

 visits to our shores it stays out at sea by night, cradled by 

 the billows, and at early dawn repairs to the muddy flats 

 and sand-banks, where it feeds exclusively on marine 

 plants, especially laver and zost^ra. As soon as these are 

 left bare by the ebbing tide, the Brents are taught by their 

 instinct that they have no time to lose, and hasten in 

 " skeins " or " gaggles," making in their flight a trumpet- 

 , like noise, which, heard at a distance, resembles that of a 

 pack of harriers or fox-hounds in full cry. They prefer 

 to take their stand on those parts of the ooze which are 

 least intersected by creeks, and there, if left undisturbed, 

 they continue to feed without intermission till the rising 

 tide lifts them off their feet. Then, away to sea again ! 

 or, if the weather be boisterous, they seek for shelter in 

 the rivers and estuaries. They are local in their attach- 

 ments, returning annually to the same feeding-grounds. 

 They do not associate from choice with other species, for 

 though they may be frequently seen feeding in the vicinity 

 of various Waders, they form no society with them, and 

 are, indeed, in quest of diff'erent food. Seaside fowlers 

 are well acquainted with the peculiarity of their habits, 



I I 



