THE BRENT GOOSE. 
59 
on wing, continued their notes in the air, as they likewise did after 
having settled on the water. The rushing sound this flock produced 
when rising at about a mile distance from me, resembled some 
“ elemental war.” Their call, as heard at two miles'’ distance, was 
quite loud. Audubon remarks : — “ As to its cry, although I have 
often seen hundreds of individuals at a time, I have not been able 
to tune my ears so as to liken its cacklings to the sounds pro- 
duced by f a pack of hounds in full cry/ as alleged by Wilson”* 
(vol. v. p. 24). True, when the cry is borne directly to one from 
a flock of birds swimming in order, it is not sufficiently varied to 
be musical ; but when the birds are veering about on wing, or 
swimming in different directions, it strongly resembles what Wil- 
son has compared it to. But I shall call a witness in favour of 
the statement, that, under cross-examination, will not break down. 
March 8, 1840 j a delightful, warm, calm day : on riding from 
Belfast to Holywood at high water, birds of various species were 
abundant. Opposite Clifden, and very near the shore, were perhaps 
500 brent geese in a flock, keeping up their usual concert, like the 
music of a pack of hounds in full cry. The moment that, borne on 
the gentle gale, my horse heard it, he became quite impatient, as 
hunters do on hearing the hounds at a distance, and continued very 
spirited and restless so long as he was within hearing of the sound ; 
just as he would have done had it proceeded from a genuine pack. 
Thus have we the acute hearing of the horse bearing testimony to 
the resemblance ; and this sense in the quadruped is superior to 
that of his lord and master — Man. I have often, when going 
to join the hounds, had evidence of this, as on gaining the 
ridge of hill that overlooked the hunting ground a few miles 
distant, our horses indicated that they recognized the cry before 
we did ourselves. I do not remember having been in any 
other instance on horseback within hearing of “ the cry” of the 
brent geese. 
The rate of swimming of these birds is quick. Once, when 
walking along the side of the bay, and a flock of about 300, not 
* Wilson also alludes to their “honking” voice, which, in the north of Ireland, is 
called u cronkin,” both words representing the sound produced. 
