84 British Birds, with their Nests and Eggs. 



Family— ANA TIDM. 



Brent Goose. 



Bernicla brenta, Pall. 



DURING tlie whole period of its autumn and winter residence in the British 

 Islands, the Brent Goose is purely a marine species, seldom coming inland. 

 The only exception to this rule, which has so far come under my notice, has been 

 in the early spring, after the breaking up of long continued frost and snow, when 

 I have occasionally met with them feeding in fields of young wheat, close to the 

 coast.* During their residence in these islands, most of their time is spent at 

 sea, or in bays, and shallow estuaries, mud flats and sand banks — floating off with 

 the rising tide, and returning to their feeding grounds at ebb. 



The winter range of the Brent Goose extends from Southern Scandinavia and 

 Denmark to the Mediterranean, and in very severe seasons the African and Asiatic 

 sides of that sea. It is a regular visitor to the coast of Portugal, and has been 

 obtained as far south as the Atlantic coast of Southern Morocco. Von Heuglin 

 states it is found in Lower Egypt, in small flocks, in winter. It is often con- 

 siderably abundant on the coasts of Belgium and Holland, and the Zuyder Zee, 

 but only occasionally seen off Heligoland. 



On the east coast of Great Britain, its chief haunts are the coast of Essex, 

 (where formerly it was extremely abundant, but in late years, from constant per- 

 secution and loss of its favourite food, it has greatly decreased), the Lincolnshire 

 Wash, and the estuary of the Humber ; but in the latter, only common in severe 

 winters. Immense flocks yearly frequent the Fenham flats, off Holy Island, on the 

 Northumberland coast. Further north it is often plentiful off the mouth of the Tay, 

 Montrose Basin, mouth of the Findhorn, Beauly, Cromarty, and Dornoch Firths, but 

 specially the two latter, where, in some winters, it collects in enormous flocks. In 

 the Orkney Islands, although not uncommon, it is local ; and, according to Mr. Saxby, 

 not a common visitor to Shetland, occurring usually, when it does appear, after 

 rough weather from the south. A common name for Brent on the north-east 

 coast is " Sly " Goose. On the west coast of Scotland it is much less common than 



* Mr. F. Boyes (Zool., 71, 2643) records Brent Geese at Arrani, near Beverley, fourteen miles from the Sea 

 and Hiiraber; this was in the spring. 



