OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 331 



species more or less intergrading with its Old World ally, and dealt with fully in 

 the following chapter. B. nigricans, an inhabitant of Siberia as far east as the 

 Lena and North-west America, west of the Rocky Mountains. It is distinguished 

 from the Brent Goose by having the white of the neck meeting in front and 

 forming a nearly uninterrupted collar, and the black of the breast reaching to 

 the belly. 



Habits. Brent Geese are seldom very common in our Islands before 

 October, but from that date onwards, through the winter up to the end of March, 

 they are far and away the most numerous species of the present subfamily to be 

 found on the British coasts. Vast flocks accumulate in certain favoured districts, 

 among which I may specially mention the Wash, where I have seen gatherings 

 of these birds covering many acres of mud-flat, and whose noisy clamour in the 

 still hours of early morning could be heard for a mile or more across the salt 

 marshes. The Brent Goose whilst with us is decidedly a coast bird, rarely seen 

 inland, but spending its time either on the sea or the great mud-banks adjoining. 

 It is a very gregarious bird, and the young and adults flock together ; but it has 

 frequently been remarked that in some winters few, if any, young birds made 

 their appearance, a fact which apparently suggests a great misfortune at the 

 breeding grounds. It is a remarkably wary bird, seldom allowing a near approach 

 on shore, and requiring the most skilful management on the part of the sports- 

 man to creep up within range on the sea. The principal food of the Brent Goose 

 consists of the grass- wrack (Zostera marina) and laver (Ulva latissima) , which 

 grow plentifully on certain mud-banks, and to these banks the Geese resort as 

 soon as the tide recedes sufficiently for them to reach the plants, which are torn 

 up and eaten. If approached at these times the adult birds usually fly off to sea 

 well out of harm's way, but the young birds are more trustful, and simply rise 

 and settle again, as if loth to leave the feast, and this greediness or inexperience 

 costs the lives of a good many every year. During the period of high water the 

 Brent Goose usually retires some distance out to sea, but I have known great 

 flocks settle on low islands, and pass the time between the tides in sleeping or 

 preening their plumage. The Brent Goose feeds principally during the day, but 

 often visits the banks at low water for that purpose during a bright moonlight 

 night. In addition to the food already mentioned, Feilden records that at their 

 breeding grounds Brent Geese feed on the buds of a saxifrage, a substance which 

 is only taken whilst the birds are ashore rearing their young. Grass and possibly 

 animal food may also be eaten then. The flight of this bird is rather laboured 

 but regular. Its note is a loud and oft-repeated hank, or honk, which is uttered 

 not only 011 the ground, but when the birds are flying. 



Nidification. The breeding habits of the Brent Goose have been carefully 

 observed by Colonel Feilden during the Nares Arctic expedition. This informa- 



