80 



GOOSE, BERNACLE. 



AysER LEUCOPSIS, Temm. 



The Bernacles visit this country during winter, 

 appearing in flocks chiefly on the western and 

 northern coasts. Early in the spring they quit our 

 shores and retire to Lapland, Greenland, and Spitz- 

 bergen to breed. They are found also in Holland 

 and Germany. They are very shy and wild, but 

 on being taken, grow in a few days as familiar as 

 our tame Geese. They feed on grass, roots, aquatic 

 plants, &c. The eggs, from six to eight in number, 

 are of a greyish white colour, about five inches 

 long and nearly two inches in breadth. 



GOOSE, BEENT. 



ANAS BERNICLA, Lin. 



This species, the smallest as well as the most 

 common of the Goose tribe which annually visit 

 this country, is found on most of our sea-coasts. 

 As the severity of winter approaches, they quit the 

 northern regions in search of warmer climates, and 

 arrive in England in considerable numbers, resort- 

 ing to the rivers, lakes, and marshes of the interior 

 parts. They feed chiefly on the long grass and 

 plants which grow in the water. The Brent Goose 

 breeds in the northern regions of both Continents, 

 laying six or eight eggs of a pale greyish green. 



