7*2 ANATIDJ^ 



species. With the exception of the Red-breasted Goose, 

 which is only a rare wanderer to onr shores, the Brent is the 

 smallest member of its family and the one which is most 

 abundant along our coasts. To the eastern and southern 

 shores of England it is a plentiful visitor and thousands 

 frequent various parts of the Irish coast. The Brent is very 

 abundant in Tralee Bay, co. Kerry, where I have seen 

 acres of slob-land tenanted by immense gatherings. On 

 the west of Scotland, however, it is less numerous than the 

 Bernacle. This Goose arrives about September, and its 

 numbers increase until December. It remains until April, 

 and I have seen small parties early in May on the Dublin 

 coast. Stragglers in summer have been seldom recorded ; 

 a specimen was obtained on July 10th, 1887, at the Island of 

 Rathlin O'Birne (Barrington). 



I have watched great numbers of Brent Geese on the 

 extensive mud-flats of Dublin Bay, within a few miles of the 

 city. These birds are exceedingly clever and are quite able 

 to discriminate between an ordinary pedestrian and a gunner 

 approaching them on the open strand. I have seen these 

 Geese alight within seventy yards of the main thoroughfare, 

 crowded with noisy holiday seekers, nor did the din of the 

 electric cars, the whiz of the passing cyclist, nor the 

 suspicious-looking ornithologist, as he peeped over the wall 

 and stood staring through his field-glasses, cause any anxiety 

 among the flock. Shooting is here forbidden, and well the 

 Geese know it. But let the gunner try to approach them 

 be it ever so stealthily on the strand, and ere he get 

 within two hundred yards of them off they fly. With 

 the aid of my field-glass I have been able to view these 

 birds so that they seemed to appear almost at my feet. 

 On several occasions I have had the good fortune to arrive 

 at their feeding-grounds before them, and have watched 

 a flock fly in from the sea and pitch on the ooze. The 

 birds almost immediately begin to feed, with the exception 

 of perhaps one or two which may look about for a few 

 minutes, and in this locality, where the birds are compara- 

 tively tame, I have not noticed any special sentinel Geese. 

 They usually walk leisurely after one another, heading in 

 the same direction, some, however, may be seen retracing 

 their steps, some indulging in a chase, with wing's spread 

 and necks at full stretch, while others often halt to preen 

 their feathers. As they feed they search among the sea- 

 wrack, for Zostera and other marine weeds ; they will 



