172 BRENT GOOSE. 



so in the hours of the night. The night is usually spent asleep out at sea; while 

 in the day-time, and with the earliest dawn of light, they betake themselves to then- 

 shallow feeding grounds near the shore. Mr. Thompson states that they are much more 

 alarmed at the sight of a man's face than of his body. When put up, he states, that 

 they invariably turn and fly against the wind; they ought therefore always to be 

 approached clown wind, and they will thus give the shooter a better chance of their 

 flying within range, than if approached in any other direction. They are very wary, 

 and not easy to be caught "napping." Their flight is in a somewhat irregular mass, not 

 assuming the regular form of some of our other Wild Geese. Their note, when heard 

 from a large flock, resembles the "music" of a pack of hounds in full cry. So much is 

 this the case, that on one occasion, Mr. Thompson states, that his horse, surely an 

 unprejiidiced witness, on hearing it, showed all the symptoms of excitement usual 

 when near a pack of hounds. They swim with great ease and speed, but never dive 

 except at the last extremity. The wounded birds flock together, and are not easily 

 separated. 



The food consists of blades of Zostera marina; each blade being neatly folded up, 

 when of sufficient length. The root of this plant is also eaten. According to Selby 

 they also feed on the Green Sloke sea- weed, (Ulva latissima.) 



They breed in the extreme north. 



The eggs are of a grayish white colour, and measure two inches and three-quarters 

 in length, by one inch and three-quarters in breadth. 



They are said to breed in captivity, and are readily tamed. 



In the adult male the bill, which is one inch and a half in length, is black; the 

 nail, also black. Irides, nearly black; the head, neck, and upper breast, are dull black; 

 on each side of the neck is a patch of white, with a few black feathers in it. Prima- 

 ries and secondaries, black. Back, scapulars, wing coverts, and tertials, brownish black, 

 the feathers edged with a lighter shade; rump, black. Upper tail coverts, white; tail, 

 black. Lower breast and belly, blue gray, edges of feathers lighter. Vent and under 

 tail coverts, white. Legs and feet, black. 



Females are smaller, and browner than the males. 



In length they measure about one foot nine inches. 



