BIRDS OF THE SEA 119 



Plumage. — Head, neck, and throat black ; forehead, 

 cheeks, and chin white, tinged with buff ; mantle laven- 

 der-grey, barred with black and white ; wings and tail 

 blackish ; under parts grejdsh white, flanks barred with 

 grey ; whiter on the vent and under tail-coverts. Bill 

 and legs black. Length 25 in. Female slightly smaller. 



Language. — A harsh cackling. 



Habits. — Like the other Geese. Feeds at night. 



Food. — Largely graminivorous, but also animal matters 

 picked up on mud-fiats. 



Nidification. — Probably breeds in Arctic regions, 

 but breeds here in a semi-domesticated state. 



BRENT GOOSE (Bernicla hrenta), 



A winter visitor, chiefly to the north-east of England ; 

 but pretty generally distributed in suitable localities. 



Haunts. — Mud- and tidal flats ; very maritime. 



Plumage. — Head, throat, and neck black, white patch 

 on each side of neck ; mantle brownish black, with 

 lighter edges ; wdngs, rump, and tail black ; under 

 parts slate-grey ; tail-coverts white. Bill and legs 

 black. Length 23 in. Female rather smaller. 



Language. — A loud " cronk *' or " honk." 



Habits. — Resembling the other Geese, but more 

 marine, spending the night on the sea, and coming to 

 shore in the day-time to feed. 



Food. — Marine plants, wrack-grass, &c., found on 

 oozy mud-flats. 



Nidification. — Breeds in Northern Europe and Asia. 



