BRENT GOOSE. 173 



to the assertions of the Walrus-catchers, only one species 

 of Goose comes to Nova Zembla, and we in fact got sight 

 of no other than the Bean Goose and the Brent Goose, 

 which latter, however, does not pass for a Goose among the 

 Russians. The web -footed herbivorous birds, however, 

 collect in much greater numbers upon the island of Kol- 

 gujew, which is described as covered with Swans and Geese, 

 than in Nova Zembla, where the vegetation is too scanty. 

 On this account expeditions are sometimes sent hither to 

 kill and salt these birds. A merchant of Archangel told 

 me that once fifteen thousand Geese were killed here in 

 two hunts." 



In the adult male the bill and nail are black, and only 

 one inch and a half in length ; the irides very dark brown, 

 almost black ; the forehead low, the head small and black ; 

 the neck all round black, except a small patch on each 

 side, which is white, but mixed with a few regularly-placed 

 black feathers ; back, scapulars, wing-coverts, and tertials, 

 dark brownish black, the edges a little lighter in colour ; 

 primary and secondary quill -feathers black; the rump 

 black ; upper tail-coverts white ; tail-feathers black ; upper 

 part of the breast black ; lower portion of the breast and 

 the belly slate-grey, with lighter coloured margins ; vent 

 and under tail-coverts white ; legs, toes, membranes, and 

 claws black. 



The whole length is twenty-one inches. From the carpal 

 joint to the end of the wing thirteen inches ; the first quill- 

 feather the longest in the wing. 



Females are a little smaller than males, and have their 

 plumage tinged with brown. 



Young birds of the year have little or no white patch 

 on the sides of the neck ; head and neck dusky lead-grey ; 

 the feathers of the body edged with brown; belly and 

 flanks light grey. 



