Brent Goose 157 



the unwonted sight fell upon my eyes, and I was already hoping, as I lay motionless in my 

 boat, that the geese would settle and allow me first to admire them and then to bag a few. 

 They were already falling from a great height, turning and twisting in the air like teal, and 

 keeping up an uninterrupted cackle ; but the leaders detected me, and at once the whole 

 flock, as if influenced by a powerful gust of wind, swerved aside, began again to soar, 

 and eventually left the lake. Then it was, when those many hundred throats were calling 

 near me in the silent morning air, when every sound is borne so clearly over the water, 

 that I realised how far removed is the note of these geese from the loud shrill cry of other 

 species I had heard. 



What would have been my impression had a flock of yellow-billed or white-fronted 

 geese flown towards me in like numbers ? The cry of the brent seemed feeble, although 

 fairly musical. And I thought that it would indeed require "countless flocks" "to 

 drown the roar of the waves." I shall never forget the feeling of excitement, followed by 

 disappointment, aroused that morning by the brent which, alas ! I am not likely ever to 

 meet again in like circumstances. 



In the following notice of the light-bellied race of this goose I take occasion to touch 

 once more on the typical form, and thus complete the foregoing account. 



