234 BRITISH SEA BIRDS. 



exposed their pastures. This bird, for the most 

 part, is a day feeder ; but during moonlight nights 

 it will visit the exposed banks, doubtless the tide 

 having considerable influence on its habits in this 

 respect. The flight of this Goose, if rather laboured, 

 is powerful and well-sustained ; and during its pro- 

 gression the birds often form into Vs or Ws, or 

 some other lineal pattern. The note of the Brent 

 Goose is a loud, oft -repeated, and variously- 

 modulated hank or honk, uttered, not only when 

 the bird is on the ground, but during flight. 



But very little is known of the nidification of the 

 Brent Goose. It breeds in the highest Arctic 

 latitudes, selecting, if possible, an island near the 

 coast, making a rude nest in some hollow in the 

 ground, of dry grass, stalks of plants, and moss, 

 and warmly lined with down. The four or five 

 eggs are creamy -white in colour. The gander 

 keeps watch and ward near the nest, whilst the 

 goose incubates the eggs. By the end of July 

 most of the Brent Geese begin to moult, and during 

 some part of the time they are quite incapable of 

 flight. At this critical period they keep closely to the 

 sea. Mr. Trevor- Battye, in his interesting book, 

 Icebound on Kolgziev, gives a graphic description of 

 the way the Samoyeds capture the Brent Goose 

 whilst it is incapable of flight. Instinctively aware 

 of their helplessness, the Geese endeavour to get to 

 the sea, and on it congregate in large flocks, until 

 their quills have grown. But the Samoyeds cleverly 



