82 BRENT GOOSE WHOOPER <& BEWICK'S SWANS. 



Habits. Like the other Geese. Feeds at night. 

 Food. Largely graminivorous, but also animal matters 

 picked up on mud-flats. 



Nidification. Probably breeds in Arctic regions. 



BEENT GOOSE (Bernicla brenta). 



A winter visitor, chiefly to the north-east of England; but 

 pretty generally distributed in suitable localities. 



Haunts. Mud and tidal flats ; very maritime. 



Plumage. Head, throat, and neck black, white patch on 

 each side of neck ; mantle brownish black, with lighter edges ; 

 wings, rump, and tail black ; under parts slate-grey ; tail- 

 coverts white. Bill and legs black. Length 23 in. Female 

 rather smaller. 



Language. A loud " cronk " or " honk." 



Habits. Kesembling the other Geese, but more marine, 

 spending the night on the sea, and coming to shore in the day- 

 time to feed. 



Food. Marine plants, wrack-grass, &c., found on oozy mud- 

 flats. 



Nidification. Breeds in Northern Europe and Asia. 



WHOOPEE SWAN (Cygnus musicus). 



A winter visitor, not uncommonly met with on our coasts. 



Plumage. White. Bill tipped with black, otherwise lemon- 

 yellow. Legs black. Length 60 in. Female smaller. 



Language. Loud, and rather like a trumpet ; thus " who- 

 who-who." 



Habits. Flight strong and powerful, with the long neck 

 outstretched ; not of so graceful an appearance as the Mute 

 Swan. It frequents shallow waters, and feeds by thrusting its 

 long neck down to the bottom, where the food is found. A 

 powerful swimmer, like all the Swans. 



Food. Aquatic weeds and grass. 



Nidification. Breeds in northern regions. 



BEWICK'S SWAN (Cygnus bewicki). 



An irregular winter visitor to suitable parts of our coasts. 



Observations. Smaller than last, and has greater area of 

 hlack on bill. 



Plumage. White, rather more black on bill than in the last. 

 Length 46 in. Female similar. 



Language. A metallic " tong-tong-tong." 



Habits. Like the last. 



Food. Aquatic plants. 



Nidification. Breeds in northern regions. 



