198 
THE BLACK-FACED BERNACLE. 
head. The fore and hind parts of the back are also black, 
like the bill and feet ; the middle part of the back and wing 
coverts are ash grey, banded with black, and the lower 
parts of the body are white, shaded at the sides with grey. 
This is another winter visitant to the British islands, ap- 
pearing in considerable flocks, especially if the weather is 
severe. It is more abundant on the western than on the 
eastern coasts, and is very wild and shy, although, when 
taken captive, it soon becomes reconciled, and will breed 
with other species. 
The Black-faced Bernacle Goose (Bermda Brenta), 
variously called the Black-headed, or Eing-necked Ber- 
nacle ; the Brand, Brent, Clatter, Horra, or Wave Goose. 
This species is considerably smaller than the one last 
described, from which it may be easily distinguished by 
its having the head and neck entirely black, with the 
exception of a small patch of white on each side of the 
upper part of the latter. Above, the body is brownish 
grey ; below, greyish white, with cinereous bars on the sides. 
Twenty-five inches is the usual length of this bird, which is 
abundant in many parts of the British coasts, from the end of 
October until the beginning of April. Many of this species 
are annually shot or snared for the markets ; the numbers 
vary in different parts of the coast according to circumstances. 
Mr. Boys, of Sandwich, informed Montagu, that in the year 
1739-40, when they were extremely abundant on the Con- 
tinent, they were so plentiful on the coast of Kent, and in 
such a starving condition, that they suffered themselves 
to be knocked dowQ with sticks and stones, and were car- 
ried in carts to the neighbouring towns, and sold for six- 
pence a-piece. In the year 1803, again, according to the 
same authority, they were innumerable about Sandwich, 
and Avere so miserably poor and debilitated as not to be 
able to rise after alighting. Mr. Boys mentions it as 
remarkable that these Geese were all of one species, not 
a single Bernacle, Grey Lag, or Bean Goose being seen 
among them. It is noted also as a curious circumstance, 
that these excessive immigrations of Brent Geese should 
be so local, as often, when they were thus plentiful on the 
