18 BREXT BERNICLE. 



spring in Holland, less common in France and Eng- 

 land, and rare towards the inland countries of Europe ; 

 but occasionally they migrate in such myriads as nearly 

 to starve each other. In the year 1740, according 

 to Buffon, they appeared in such vast flocks on the 

 coasts of Picardy, upon the corn fields, that the in- 

 habitants were raised en masse in order to destroy 

 them ; which, however, they could not effect, although 

 hundreds, nay thousands, were knocked down with 

 poles, and a change in the weather only caused them 

 to depart. In the same year, we are also informed, 

 by Mr. Boys of Sandwich, they were so plentiful on 

 the coast of Kent, that they were in so starving a 

 condition as to suffer themselves to be knocked down 

 with stones and sticks, and were carried in carts to the 

 neighbouring towns, where purchasers were allowed 

 to pick and choose for sixpence a piece. The same 

 gentleman also informs us that they were very 

 abundant on the same coast in the year 1803, and 

 were so miserably poor and debilitated as to permit 

 themselves to be taken by hand : it was also remarked 

 by him that they were unaccompanied by any other 

 species of Goose or Bernicle. 



They breed in very high latitudes in the Arctic 

 Circle, laying several white eggs. Their nourish- 

 ment is similar to that of the other species of the 

 genus, and their manners, as far as known, are like- 

 wise similar : they are said to be easily tamed : their 

 voice is hoarse and disagreeable. 



