334 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



however^ a few instances. On November 20th, 1842, one 

 was shot on Henfield Level ; and another, on February 19th, 

 1843, nearly at the same spot. It frequents the estviaries and 

 mud flats, where it feeds on the sea- weed, Ulva latisperma, 

 known as the '' laver," and on roots of the Zostera marina. 

 It is said also to feed on crustaceans. I have, myself, 

 often watched flights of two or three hundred, off Brighton 

 and Shoreham, when the weather was tolerably mild, winging 

 their way along the coast-line, flying almost always to the 

 eastward. 



Mr. Booth states that he once found a couple of hundred 

 apparently sleeping on the waves, thoroughly worn out after 

 a heavy gale ; they allowed him to approach within some 

 twenty yards before noticing the boat, even then rising so 

 slowly that the party had time to discharge each of the 

 barrels of four guns, securing six of the birds. This Goose 

 is esteemed one of the best for the table. Its cry is an 

 oft-repeated utterance of the syllables, " honk,'^ or " konk.^' 

 In 'The Ibis' for 1865 (p. 512), we find that in Parry's 

 expedition a nest and two eggs were brought on board 

 from Ross Islet, lat. 80° 48' N. Dr. Malmgren found it 

 breeding in Treurenberg Bay, and Messrs. Evans and Sturge 

 on the South Cape Islands. 



WHOOPER, ELK, or WHISTLING SWAN. 

 Cygnus musicus. 



This Swan is to be met with in almost every hard winter, 

 occasionally in flocks. It feeds principally on vegetable 

 matters, insects, and mollusks. Its flight is generally low, 

 and though it appears to be performed in a leisurely and 



