ANATID.E. 469 



the shore with the intention of hiding themselves, but as they are not fleet, they 

 fall an easy prey to their pursuers. In the autumn they again assemble in flocks 

 on the shores of Hudson's Bay for three weeks or a month previous to their 

 departure southwards. It has been observed that in their migrations the Geese 

 annually resort to certain passes and resting places, some of which are fre- 

 quented both in the spring and autumn, and others only in the spring. The 

 Canada Goose generally builds its nest on the ground, but some pairs occa- 

 sionally breed on the banks of the Saskatchewan in trees, depositing their eggs 

 in the deserted nests of ravens or fishing eagles. Its call is imitated by a pro- 

 longed nasal pronunciation of the syllable wook frequently repeated. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Colour. — Head, two thirds of the neck *, greater quills, rump, and tail, pitch-black. 

 Back and wings broccoli-brown, edged with wood-brown. Base of the neck before and the 

 under plumage yellowish-grey with paler edges ; flanks and base of the plumage generally 

 brownish-grey. A few feathers about the eye, a large kidney-shaped patch on the throat, 

 the sides of the rump, and upper and under tail coverts, pure white. Bill and feet black. 



Form. — Bill shaped more like that of the Barnacle than that of the two preceding geese. 

 Neck long and slender. 



Dimensions. 



Inch. Lin. Inch. Lin. Inch. Lin. 



Length, total . . 41 Length of bill above . 2 2 Length of middle toe . 2 11 



„ of tail ..90 „ of bill to rictus .20 „ of its nail . . G| 



„ of wing 19 6 „ of tarsus ..37 



Individuals differ considerably in dimensions : one having the same length of wing with 

 the preceding, has a tarsus four inches long ; middle toe 3^ inches, its nail 7^ lines. — R. 



[228.] 4. Anser bernicla. (Bonap.) Brent Goose. 



Sub-family, Anserinee, Swains. Genus, Anser, Auct. 



Brent Goose. Penn. Arct. ZooL, ii., p. 551, No. 478. 



Oie cravant (^4«as bernicla), Temm., ii., p. 824. 



The Brant (Anas bernicla). Wils., viii. p. 131, pi. 72, f. 1. 



Anas bernicla (Brent Goose). Richards. Jpp. Parry's Second Voy., p. 367, No. 29. 



Anser bernicla. Bonap. Syn., p. 378, No. 320. 



Weetha-waewse. Cree Indians. Neerlook. Esquimaux. 



The Brent breeds in numbers on the coasts and islands of Hudson's Bay and 

 the Arctic Sea, and is rarely seen in the interior. It feeds much on the ulva 



* The black part of the neck measures 11 inches from the occiput. 



