234 BRITISH SEA BIRDS. 
exposed their pastures. This bird, for the most ~ 
part, isa day feeder; but during moonlight nights — 
it will visit the exposed banks, doubtless the tide — 
having considerable influence on its habits in this 
respect. The flight of this Goose, if rather laboured, 
is powerful and well-sustained ; and during its pro- 
gression the birds often form into Vs or Ws, or 
some other lineal pattern. The note of the Brent 
Goose is a loud, oft-repeated, and _ variously- 
modulated axk or honk, uttered, not only when 
the bird is on the ground, but during flight. 
But very little is known of the nidification of the 
Brent Goose. It breeds in the highest Arctic 
latitudes, selecting, if possible, an island near the 
coast, making a rude nest in some hollow in the 
ground, of dry grass, stalks of plants, and moss, 
and warmly lined with down. The four or five 
eggs are creamy-white in colour. The gander 
keeps watch and ward near the nest, whilst the 
goose incubates the eggs. By the end of July 
most of the Brent Geese begin to moult, and during 
some part of the time they are quite incapable of 
flight. At this critical period they keep closely to the 
sea. Mr. Trevor-Battye, in his interesting book, 
Icebound on Kolguev, gives a graphic description of 
the way the Samoyeds capture the Brent Goose 
whilst it is incapable of flight. Instinctively aware 
of their helplessness, the Geese endeavour to get to 
the sea, and on it congregate in large flocks, until 
their quills have grown. But the Samoyeds cleverly 
