374 INTRODUCTION TO ZOOLOGY. 



From the great extent of coast and the varied character 

 of the British Islands, the birds of the present order are so 

 numerous as to constitute more than one-fourth of the entire 

 of the native species. They are arranged in five families, 

 according to the form and structure of the bill, the wings, 

 the toes, and the position of the legs. 



AruAidce* The first of these comprises Geese, Swans, 

 Ducks, and allied species. Most of the Wild Geese are 

 winter visitants to these countries; and the long strings in 

 which they are seen to fly, changed at times into a wedge- 

 shaped figure like that of the letter <j, cannot be looked on 

 without admiration. 



The two best known species are the Bean Goose (A. segetum) 

 and the White-fronted Goose (A . albifrons) and of these the 

 Bean Goose is much the more common. These birds are 

 remarkable for their watchfulness, not only at night, but during 

 the time of feeding. Before alighting for this purpose on a 

 field of new-sown grain, they make several circling flights, to 

 see if all be safe, and then commence feeding. They take the 

 precaution, however, to plant a sentry, who, as Mr. St. John 

 informs us.t " either stands on some elevated part of the field, 

 or walks slowly with the rest never, however, venturing to 

 pick up a single grain of corn, his whole energies being 

 employed in watching. When the sentry thinks he has 

 performed a fair share of duty, he gives the nearest bird to 

 him a sharp peck. I have seen him sometimes pull out a 

 handful of feathers if the first hint is not immediately attended 

 to, at the same time uttering a querulous kind of cry. This 

 bird then takes up the watch, with neck perfectly upright, 

 and in due time makes some other bird relieve guard." 



The Bernicle A. bernicla} and the Brent Goose 



(A. brenta) are regular winter risitors, and abound in certain 

 localities. The Brent Goose is killed during the season in 

 great numbers, being esteemed for table use. In Belfast Bay 

 it is always called the "Barnacle." 



The appearance and habits of the Swan are so well known, 

 that it is needless to dwell upon them. There are, however, 

 two species of Wild Swan which visit these countries in win- 

 ter, and present some interesting peculiarities. If the skater, 

 in the midst of his evolutions on the ice, should chance to 



* Latin, Anas, a Dock. This family is now subdivided, 

 t Wild Sports of the Highlands, p. io7. 



