332 THE GAME BIEDS AND WILD FOWL 



tion, strictly speaking, applies to the White-bellied Brent Goose, but possibly does 

 not differ to any important extent in the two races. He noticed its arrival at the 

 breeding grounds near Knot Harbour in lat. 82J° N. on the 9th of June, and eggs 

 were laid by the 21st of that month. Shortly after its arrival the male and 

 female were observed rising in spiral flight to a great elevation, toying and 

 playing with each other meanwhile. Some of the nests were made on the hill 

 sides between the snow-line and the sea, others were placed on an island, beyond 

 the line of open water, and separated from the mainland by rough hummocks of 

 snow and ice. The nests were made in hollows in the ground, and were com- 

 posed of grass, moss, and saxifrages, and warmly lined with down. The eggs are 

 four or five in number, creamy-white in colour, and rather smooth and glossy. 

 They measure on an average 2' 75 inches in length by 1"85 inch in breadth. As 

 with other species, the male keeps watch near the nest whilst the female is 

 incubating, ready to warn her or assist in defending the eggs. One brood only 

 is reared in the year, and by the end of July most of the Brent Geese were 

 moulting their quills so quickly as to be incapable of flight. When alarmed, 

 however, they ran quickly to the nearest water for safety. 



Diagnostic characters. — Branta, with the head and neck black, and 

 a small white patch on the sides of the latter. Length, 22 to 24 inches. 



