GEESE\: COLLECTIVE AND INDIVIDUAL 131 



parts of England and Scotland, and is numerous 

 in the north and west of Ireland, where it is the 

 commonest of the grey geese. 



Food : vegetable ; principally grass, 



THE BERNACLE GOOSE (Anser leucopsis] 



The bernacle may be distinguished at a glance 

 from the other black goose, the brent, by the white 

 on its head, the head of the brent being quite black. 

 The bernacle measures about 25 inches. The bird 

 does not breed in our islands. The bernacle is un- 

 common in England, but is fairly numerous, locally, 

 in Scotland and Ireland. Bernacle reach us later in 

 the season than do the grey geese. 



Food : vegetable ; principally grass and maritime 

 plants. 



THE BRENT GOOSE 



(Anser torquatus^ or brenta] 



This bird, the smallest of our geese, measures 

 about 2 1 inches. It does not breed in our islands. 

 The brent, during the winter, is never seen on dry 

 land ; it spends its time either on the salt water or on 



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