168 THE GEESE 



avoid the rigours of winter in its home in the Far North. A few may 

 put in an appearance on our east coast by the end of October, but not 

 until Christmas has turned do they appear in any numbers. During 

 January their ranks are continually reinforced, and the maximum is 

 attained during February, when, in severe seasons, incredible numbers 

 seek sanctuary with us. 



The brent and the barnacle, though presenting much in common 

 both in appearance and breeding range, yet afford some striking 

 differences in their choice of habitat, at any rate in so far as winter 

 quarters are concerned. Thus, while the barnacle-goose chooses 

 our western shores, the brent evidently prefers the eastern, where, 

 on occasion, it is to be met with in thousands : on the north coasts of 

 France, according to Naumann, they occur during some years in 

 millions, and their cries drown the roar of the waves, and their 

 swarms from afar darken the light like smoke. The barnacle-goose, 

 on the other hand, never occurs in great numbers. The brent shows 

 a partiality to estuaries and mud-flats ; the barnacle, for grass-covered 

 islands, and even for pasture when this lies near the sea. With the 

 brent it is never friendly, and seems even to avoid its company. In 

 localities where the two live together, the barnacles keep in flocks 

 by themselves and aloof from their neighbours. 



Of the brent-goose in winter Mr. Abel Chapman remarks they 

 spend the night at sea and the day on the tidal oozes, but they never 

 go inland to feed in the fields, or travel a single yard beyond high- water 

 mark. Their reluctance to remain long out of the water is a factor in 

 all their habits, since at frequent intervals they must go afloat to 

 drink, splash about, and preen themselves. Their favourite food 

 seems to be the sea-grass or Zostera laid bare at low tide, and when 

 feeding on this they advance in close order, all heads down. But 

 they are wary birds, and every now and then one or more will cease 

 feeding to survey the country, and thus avoid surprise by an enemy. 

 But even at full tide, should they still be hungry, they will contrive 

 to secure a sufficiency by a sort of semi-dive, submerging the fore part 



