ANAS BEENICLA. 231 



fall in with some geese on the way. To the 

 north and east was an immense flat, at least 

 five or six miles in breadth, extending from 

 the shore to the hills ; it was dead level, and 

 beautifully green, with mosses slightly inter- 

 sprinkled with grass, and looked as if it ought 

 to be a very good place for deer, but we could 

 see none. This part of the island is very little 

 frequented by deer in the summer months, 

 although they are said to come down here in 

 immense numbers during winter. The plain 

 was strewed with quantities of their cast horns 

 and tufts of winter hair. We saw vast flocks 

 of Brent or Bernacle geese {Anas Bernicla) 

 pasturing on the plain, but as these birds in the 

 winter get the benefit of enlarging their minds 

 by an European education, they took quite 

 as good care of themselves as they do when 

 they are " down south." The walking across 

 the flat was awfully bad, as we went nearly 

 up to the knees in the soft, splashy, mossy 

 ground at every step, so we took towards 

 the shore, intending to follow it up until we 

 should find the harbour mentioned by Mr. 

 Wood's letter. The shore was also very bad 

 walking, and after travelling much further 

 than we had expected, and seeing nothing of 



Q 4 



