346 THE GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL 



North-west America, west of the Rocky Mountains. Distinguished 

 from the Brent Goose by having the white of the neck meeting 

 in front and forming a nearly uninterrupted collar, and the black 

 of the breast reaching to the belly. 



Time during which the Brent Goose may be taken.— 



August I St to March ist. 



Habits. — Brent Geese are seldom very common in our islands 

 before October, but from that date onwards, through the winter 

 up to the end of March, they are far and away the most numerous 

 species of the present subfamily to be found on the British coasts. 

 wVast flocks accumulate in certain favoured districts, among which 

 I may specially mention the Wash, where I have seen gatherings 

 of these birds covering many acres of mud-flat, and whose noisy 

 clamour in the still hours of early morning could be heard for a 

 mile or more across the salt marshes. The Brent Goose whilst 

 with us is decidedly a coast bird, rarely seen inland, but spending 

 its time either on the sea or the great mud-banks adjoining. It 

 is a very gregarious bird, and the young and adults flock together ; 

 but it has frequently been remarked that in some winters few, if 

 any, young birds made their appearance, a fact which apparently 

 suggests a great misfortune at the breeding grounds. It is a 

 remarkably wary bird, seldom allowing a near approach on shore, 

 and requiring the most skilful management on the part of the 

 sportsman to creep up within range on the sea. The principal 

 food of the Brent Goose consists of the grass-wrack {Zostera 

 marina) and laver {Ulva latissimd), which grows plentifully on 

 certain mud-banks, and to these banks the Geese resort as soon 

 as the tide recedes sufficiently for them to reach the plants, which 

 are torn up and eaten. If approached at these times, the adult 

 birds usually fly off" to sea well out of harm's way, but the young 

 birds are more trustful, and simply rise and settle again, as if loth 

 to leave the feast, and this greediness or inexperience costs the 

 lives of a good many every year. During the period of high water 

 the Brent Goose usually retires some distance out to sea, but I 

 have known great flocks settle on low islands, and pass the time 

 between the tides in sleeping or preening their plumage. The 

 Brent Goose feeds principally during the day, but often visits the 

 banks at low water for that purpose during a bright rnoonlight 



