232 BRITISH SEA BIRDS. 
season. The nest is said to be made on low rocks 
near the sea, or on higher cliffs in the fjords some 
distance inland. The four or five eggs are creamy- 
white. 
BRENT GOOSE. 
The ‘ Black” Geese differ in many important- 
respects from their allies the “Gray” Geese, and 
are generally separated from them under the 
scientific terms of LBernicla or Branta. These 
birds are characterised by their short, sub-conical 
bills, in which the lamellz are concealed, or nearly 
so, and by the general dark colour of the plumage, 
relieved by white, or, in some cases, various strongly- 
contrasted colours. ‘Two species are British, in the 
sense of visiting us during winter. The first of 
these the Brent Goose—the Axser brenta of Brisson, 
and the Bernzcla brenta of modern naturalists—is 
by far the most common and widely distributed of 
the Geese in our islands, but it exclusively confines 
itself to the sea. It may be met with off almost all 
parts of our coast-line, but is most abundant along 
the east and south. The adult bird may readily be 
distinguished by the general black colouration of the 
breast and upper parts, relieved by small white 
patches on the sides of the neck, the pale margins 
to the wing coverts and mantle, and the white upper 
tail coverts. The lower parts below the breast are 
dark slate-gray, many of the feathers having paler 
margins. Young birds, however, do not display the 
white neck patches. The Brent Goose is seldom 
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