AXATID^. 209 



within fifty yards before they rose, when we dropped them to a successful 

 right and left. "We have frequently seen small tiocks numbering eight or 

 ten of these Geese as high up the Bristol C'liannel as ^Yeston-super-Ma^e, 

 where we have known of many having been shot in various years. 



In February 1855 a flock of about one hundred and twenty frequented 

 the mudbauks on the Exe estuary below Topsham for ten days, and we 

 frequently saw them. They often flew about over the town of Topsham 

 when disturbed, and several were shot from the streets. Large flocks 

 also visited the Exe in November 1871, in January 1880, January and 

 December 1890, and January 1891. These last fed on the mudbanks 

 close to the llailway-Station at Exmouth. The Urent Goose frequently 

 visits the Xingsbridge estuary aud Slapton Ley (R. P. IN"., MS. Notes). 

 Mr. E. A. S. Elliot obtained five on jS^ovember 2nd, 1891, near Kings- 

 bridge : they were greedily eating the grass- wrack {Zostcra marina) on 

 the mud. Mr. Gatcombe saw a couple in the flesh at Plymouth on May 

 12th, 1883 (Zool. 1883, p. 419), and we ourselves shot one, and saw six 

 others, on April 22nd, 1861, on the estuary of the Taw (M, A. M.). 



Great numbers of Preut Geese occur some winters at Poole Harbour in 

 Dorsetshire. " Early in Pebruary 1879 a great number arrived during 

 the prevalence of a strong east wind, and were very tame ; sixty or 

 seventy were shot by three gunners at the mouth of Poole Harbour " 

 (Mansel-Pleydcll, ' Pirds of Dorset,' p. 139). 



These Geese are also numerous off the Cornish coast; large flocks 

 sometimes appearing in Mount's Pay, and gi^eat execution being done 

 among them by the shooters with their punt-guns. 



Like our other Priti.^h Geese, the Brent Goose goes very far north to 

 nest. 



There are two forms of this Goose which visit the British Islands — one, 

 with the underparts somewhat light-coloured, from the westward, and 

 one, Avith a darker breast and abdomen, from Novaya Zemblya and the 

 north-east. The latter form predominates on the East Coast of England. 



The liev. Charles Swainson, in his ' Provincial Xames of British Birds,' 

 derives the name Brent or Brant from the AVelsh breiu'f/, lireton breniiKj, 

 a limpet; but it seems more likely to come from the Saxon, hrennen^ 

 hrante — i. e., burnt, iu allusion to the black scorched colour of the 

 plumage. 



Barnacle Goose. Bendda leucopsh (Bechst.). 



A casual visitor, of rare occurrence. 



This is another species of Goose which goes very far north to nest, and 

 is a rare winter visitor to our Englisli coasts, being nowhere plentiful, 

 and scarcer everywhere than it was formerly. It is more numerous on 

 the Scotch coasts than it is with us in England, and is u land-feeding 

 bird, very rarely taking to the water, unless persecuted and driven there. 

 In North Devon we once saw a ])air in the winter-time at no great dis- 

 tance from the Lightliouse on the Braunton Burrows, but could not 



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