﻿BRENT GOOSE. 31 



flocks, and either in a single or double line, being headed by 

 one individual, in the manner of other geese ; when they only 

 change their feeding ground, or move to a little distance, 

 they fly low over the ground or surface of the water. When 

 a flock of Brent Geese alight on the ground, the birds come 

 down in a close body, and spread afterwards wider in the 

 pursuit of their food ; but the manner of their taking wing, 

 at the time of their starting on a migratory journey, is very 

 peculiar, for they rise at once from the ground, and mount by 

 a spiral movement high in the air ; after which they move off, 

 and are soon out of sight. 



By nature the present bird is sociable towards its own 

 species, as well as towards others of its family ; it is by no 

 means quarrelsome, but rather timid ; when a single indi- 

 vidual has wandered from its companions, it seems quite lost, 

 and easily becomes the prey of a sportsman. Towards man 

 the Brent Goose is less shy than any other wild Goose ; but 

 this circumstance may be greatly attributed to the fact of their 

 being entirely unaccustomed to the sight of human beings in 

 the severe and uninhabited places where they are hatched and 

 brought up ; for after their sojourn with us for a certain time, 

 it becomes no easy matter to approach them within gun- 

 shot. 



The call-note of this Goose is peculiar to itself, and where 

 a large flock of this species flies over head, the sound that 

 proceeds from them has by many sportsmen been compared to 

 the cry of a pack of hounds : its description is varied, sounding- 

 like the different expressions, cuang, rolt, and crock ! all ex- 

 pressed in a hurried and harsh manner. In confinement it 

 thrives very well, provided it is supplied with plenty of water, 

 such as a pond or ditch, and a grassy lawn or meadow. As 

 food for the table, this species is very good. 



The food of the Brent Goose in a natural state, consists 



