THE BRENT GEESE. 245 



in Siberia, above the limit of forest-growth, and was found 

 breeding by Middendorf on the Boganida. It winters on the 

 Caspian Sea, and has occurred in most countries of Europe at 

 that season of the year, Lord Lilford possesses an Egyptian 

 specimen, collected by the late Mr. Stafford Allen, and it is 

 no doubt an occasional winter visitant to that country, as the 

 species is often depicted on the ancient monuments. 



Habits. The Red-breasted Goose is such a rare bird in 

 most parts of Europe, and has its breeding-range so restricted 

 to Siberia, that very little has been recorded about the habits 

 of the species. Mr. Seebohm, who is one of the few English 

 naturalists who have seen this Goose in a state of nature, has 

 given the following notes on it : " Radde describes its great 

 abundance in winter on the islands near the south-western 

 shores of the Caspian. After a heavy fall of snow, the fisher- 

 men clear a space on the grassy islands, and often catch them 

 in such numbers in nets that they are sold at from five to ten 

 kopecks apiece. When they begin to collect before migration, 

 thousands of flocks are reported to be seen, and it is stated 

 that the worst shots obtain as many as two hundred birds 

 during the season. When feeding together they utter a short 

 trumpet-like note ; but their cry, as they call to each other on 

 migration, is a double note, which Finsch says is easily 

 imitated with the aid of a bit of birch-bark, and which Pallas 

 represents as resembling the sound of the syllables, shak-voy^ 

 whence its local name among the Russian sportsmen of 

 Obdorsk. It is an extremely shy bird and very difficult- to 

 shoot, but, curiously enough, reconciles itself at once to con- 

 finement, and soon becomes very tame. The only information 

 which we possess respecting its winter habits is that furnished 

 us by Radde, who states that it is a very gregarious bird, 

 always seen in flocks which frequent the pastures on the 

 southern shores of the Caspian during the day, and retire far 

 out to sea for the night." 



Nest. Said by Mr. Seebohm's collectors to be indistinguish- 

 able from that of the Bean-Goose, except that it was somewhat 

 smaller. 



Eggs. These are laid early in July. The colour, according 

 to Mr. Seebohm, is " creamy-white, with obscure traces of an 



