228 
A NATH) A’]. 
ii charge of powtler, and then lying upon my back among the 
dark sea-weed, in the very line of their usual Hight, sent my 
companion round to drive them. Making a wide circuit inland, 
lie ere dong appeared exactly upon the opposite side of the 
geese, and drove them up. As they came clamouring overhead, 
certainly not more than forty or fifty feet above the sand, I 
fired ; one of their number fell some yards behind me, and on 
picking it up I found the neck almost completely severed. 
The bill, feet, &c,, of this species are always described as 
being black. In all recent specimens which I have examined 
the bill alone has been of that colour, the tarsi and feet being 
strongly tinged with olive green, paler upon the joint of the 
tarsi and the upper surface of the toes. The customary knob 
at the carpal joint of the wing appears to be somewhat pro- 
minent in this goose. 
The Brent Goose would seem to be too scarce to have acquired 
a local name ; some, nevertheless, assert that it is known in 
Shetland as the “ Horra Goose.” 
THE HOOPEB. 
Cygnus ferm. 
SWAN. 
1 11 Low’s time the Hooper bred regularly in Orkney, but it 
does so no longer ; Messrs Baikie and Heddle merely stating 
that from October to the end of March it frequents the loch of 
Stennis, its former breeding-place, as well as Eousay, Sanday, 
and some other islands. Taking it for granted that what 
applies to Orkney must apply with equal truth to Shetland, 
autliors state that it remains during the winter in Shetland also. 
Occasionally, it is true, a stray bird appears for a day or two ; 
but of the large flocks which arrive in September and October 
not one individual shows any disposition to stay longer than is 
necessary for tlie purpose of obtaining rest. 
Sometimes, thougli very rarely, tlie Swans return northwards 
