102 ,GAJvfE BIRDS AND WILD FOWL. 



Jberaiole (anser leucopsis) and the brent 

 goose (anser brenta) are both smaller than any of 

 those before named, and although differing con- 

 siderably from each other in plumage, form and 

 proportions, they yet present so many points of 

 resemblance as to entitle them, in the opinion of 

 some authors, to be included in the same genus 

 (bernicla). They are both met with during severe 

 weather in large flocks on the shores of the 

 British islands, but the brent goose is more 

 widely distributed, being at once the most com- 

 mon, and the best flavoured bird of the whole 

 family. In the winter of 1838 39 great num- 

 bers were killed on the coasts of the southern 

 maritime counties. I saw many flocks, arid shot 

 several birds myself at Pagham Harbour, in 

 Sussex, as well as many rarer anatidce ; but I 

 did not meet with a single bernicle during the 

 whole of that severe season. This last indeed 

 is of more frequent occurrence on the western 

 than on the eastern or southern shores of Great 

 Britain; and is still more numerous in Ireland, 

 where I have seen larger flocks of them than of 

 any other kind of wild goose. Although a heavier 

 bird, it is in my opinion far inferior to the brent 

 goose in a culinary point of view. 



The shieldrake, or shelldrake (tadorna vul- 

 panser), one of the most beautiful of our anatidcs, 



