170 THE GEESE 



The brents never attempted to dive, which is the more curious since 

 they are more aquatic than the grey geese in their mode of life. 

 " Only like a pack of idiots they ' wauked ' and swam along." At last 

 the poor victims reach the mouth of the net, and pause. This is 

 an awful moment for the Samoyeds. Will the birds "break." 

 Hemmed in as they are by boats ranged in a half-circle escape is 

 almost impossible, but nevertheless till the mouth of the net is 

 entered the time is an anxious one. At last a single old goose, a 

 bean-goose, steps out and runs up the bank; one or two more 

 follow, then the first of the brents. And now they have started the 

 rest is easy ; they scamper headlong into the net, and then men close 

 in behind. Of all that army, every brent was captured. Then followed 

 the sickening scene of the killing. One by one the wretched birds 

 were seized by the head and swung quickly round, by which means 

 the neck was dislocated. Then the body was flung over the net to 

 willing hands outside. When the last had been tossed over the 

 counting began 3300 brents, 13 bean, 12 whitefronted. This done, 

 the heap was divided, so many to a choom or family. After this they 

 are brought across to the mainland, and stored for the winter. 



That these birds breed on Kolguev there can be no doubt. But 

 Mr. Trevor-Battye could never get the natives to reveal their breed- 

 ing-place. Indeed they themselves never visit it, for fear of disturbing 

 the birds ; and they take every precaution to keep away curious 

 visitors. One can understand their anxiety on this head, for the 

 brent-goose is their mainstay of life throughout the winter. Similarly, 

 as we have already remarked, are the bean-geese depleted by the 

 Samoyeds in the valley of the Petschora. 



