454 THE BRENT GOOSE. 



leaden black, and their compactness of form, make them a 

 striking feature in the scene, though they cannot be compared 

 in beauty with many other water-fowl. They may always be 

 obtained from the London dealers. There is so little difference 

 in the sexes, that it is not easy to distinguish them. Their 

 chief merit, however, rests in their fondness for water-weeds, 

 in which respect they appear to be second only to the Swan. 

 On this account, Ware Goose is one of their trivial names. 



"Brent Geese have the cunning, in general, to leave the 

 mud as soon as the tide flows high enough to bear an enemy, 

 and then go off to sea, and feed on the drifting weeds/' 

 Colonel Hawker. 



"On the north-eastern shores of England, where we have 

 had opportunities of seeing them, they might be considered as 

 entirely maritime, not being known "to leave the water-mark, 

 or ever to feed on the pastures or young grain. During ebb- 

 tide, they fed on the banks of Zostera Marina, then uncovered ; 

 and Mr. Selby mentions the ulva latissima as very frequently 

 found in their stomachs ; at other times they rest on the sand- 

 banks, which are quite open, and afford no shelter for ap- 

 proach; or they ride, as it were, just off the land, buoyant 

 upon the wave, and occasionally pluck the sea-grass or weeds 

 which are yet borne up within their reach." Sir W. Jardine. 



Brent Geese are quiet, gentle, and harmless in captivity. 

 Having eaten only Norfolk-killed specimens, I cannot agree 

 with those who praise them on the table. They were fishy, 

 strong, and oily; but whoever is not fond of such savours, 

 may convert the birds into tolerable meat, by having them 

 skinned, and baked in a pie. 



" Immense numbers of Brent Geese," says Mr. St. John, 

 " float with every tide into the bays formed by the bar. As 

 the tide recedes, they land on the grass, and feed in closely- 

 packed flocks. On the land, they are light, active birds, 

 walking quickly, and with a graceful carriage. On any alarm, 



