242 
and measures more than two feet in length, 
and nearly four and a half in breadth. 
This species inhabits North America, 
and Europe; it appears sometimes in 
flocks at the Orkneys, in the spring, and 
at the Feroe Isles both in the spring and au- 
tumn, in their migrations to, and from their 
places of breeding, which appears to be 
further towards the north. In the winter 
season they frequent the north west coasts 
of this country in large flocks, but are rare- 
ly met with in the southern parts, except 
in very severe weather. They retire as 
early as the month of February. They are 
found in Russia, Lapland, Norway and 
Iceland : some authors assert that they are 
abundant on the coasts of Ireland, but that 
fact Montagu contradicts, and gives excel- 
lent authority for so doing. In that country 
the Brent Goose is very frequent, and be- 
ing ealled by the same name, has un- 
doubtedly occasioned the error ; indeed 
the confusion between this species and the 
Brent renders it difficult to get at the ka- 
hitat of the one, without confounding it 
with the other. 
