54 



BRENT GOOSE. 



black, tipped with orange ; quill-feathers black, edged with yellow on 

 their exterior webs ; on three or four of the primores a spot of white 

 runs through the whole of the exterior web, and forms an oblique bar 

 when the wing- is closed ; the belly and rump white ; on the sides above 

 the thighs are a few round black spots ; the tail is a little forked, the 

 exterior feather white on the outer web, the others black, except 

 the two middle, which are edged and tipped with ash-colour ; legs 

 greyish brown. 



The female is much less bright in the colour of the plumage : the 

 side of the head and back of the neck is grey ; on the latter are two 

 dusky lines passing from the head downwards ; the top of the head and 

 back dusky, each feather deeply margined with grey, which gives 

 those parts a pretty mottled appearance ; the rufous on the breast and 

 wings very faint, but the markings correspond with those of the other 

 sex. 



We- have not been able to discover that this bird has ever bred with 

 us, but they are frequently seen on the coast of Kent and Sussex, in 

 the winter, in large flocks, and in such an exhausted state as to suffer 

 themselves to be taken. They are also found in the interior parts of 

 the kingdom at that season, in company with the chaffinches and 

 yellow-hammers. By observation on those we have kept in confine- 

 ment, it is a hardy, bold bird, feeding on most kinds of seed usually 

 given to caged birds ; it is said to be particularly fond of beech mast. It 

 is common in many parts of the European continent, and most probably 

 breeds in the northern parts of it : it is said to build in fir trees, and 

 form a nest with moss, lined with wool and feathers, and to lay four or 

 five yellowish spotted eggs. * Fleming informs us that it changes its 

 colour with the season, becoming whiter in severe winters.* 



BRANTAIL. — A name for the Red-start. 



BRENT GOOSE (Anser Brenta, Willughby.) 



*Anas Bernicla, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 198.13.— Gmel. Syst.2. p. 513 Ind. Orn. 2. p. 



844. 3.— Temm. 2. p. 824 Brenta, Raii, Syn. p. 130. 8.— Will. p. 275. t. 69. 



—Briss. 6. p. 304. 16. t. 31.— Ib. 8vo. 2. p 442.— Le Cravant, Buff. 9. p. 87. 



—Brent or Brand Goose, Br. Zool. 2. No. 270.— Ib. fob 151 Ib. Add. t. 9. 



— Arct. Zool. 2. No. 478.— lb. Supp. p. Ib.—Albin, 1. t. 93.— Will. (Ang.) p. 

 360.— Haye's Br. Birds, t. 25.— Lath. Syn. 6. p. 467. 27.— Lewin's Br. Birds, 



7. t. 243 Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 20 Wale. Syn. l.t. 63 Litter, Phil. Trans. 



15. p. 1159 Flem. Br. Anim. 126. 



Provincial. — Wilk Bob. Road Goose. Clatter Goose.* 

 This species is considerably less than the bernacle. The specimen 

 now before us, weighed two pounds twelve ounces ; length twenty-nine 

 inches ; bill short and black ; irides dusky or dark brown ; the head, 

 neck, and upper part of the breast black ; on each side the small part of 



