62 
ANATIM. 
anything but Zoster a. This was generally in pieces about a foot 
in length, which, when so long, were always folded neatly up, 
sometimes as much so as a ribbon, but short pieces were not so 
arranged. He well remarks that they must fold this narrow leaf 
with the tongue, and that it is a nice provision of nature to enable 
them to swallow such food with convenience : he has found it in 
the folded shape in the throat.* Until November, these birds 
are not much sought after for the table in Belfast. They have 
been becoming gradually cheaper of late years. In the winters of 
1843 and 1844, I noted them, as generally sold in the shops, at 
2s. a bird, but as formerly dearer, and that the shooters then 
obtained from Is. 3d. to Is. 6d. each for them; — in the winters 
of 1848 and 1849, Is. was about the usual sum they received. 
Brent geese vary much in size and weight. 
Mr. Jenyns remarks that “ the young of the year” have no white 
on the side of the neck, and Mr. Yarrell says, little or none. In 
their infancy such may be the case ; but to the young of the year, 
as this term is understood by ornithologists, it is not applicable. 
I do not remember ever to have seen one from the end of August, 
when they are first killed, without some indication of white on the 
sides of the neck, where, in adult birds, the patch of this colour 
is conspicuous and well-marked. By much the greater proportion 
of brent geese killed here, especially early in the season, are the 
young of the year. Looking to this point particularly in 1840, 
it was noted under the 2nd of November, that although for the 
last six weeks these birds were constantly on sale, I had not seen 
an adult until that day : on the 9th of the month, three out of 
four which I saw hanging at a shop-door were old birds. 
Montagu states We are informed some of these birds breed 
in Ireland.” I have not seen any record to that effect, but am 
credibly informed that, about thirty years ago, one pair built a 
nest on Swan Island, Larne Lough, in which eggs were laid, 
* March 1850. I examined a number of folded pieces of the Zoster a from a brent 
goose (taken from the throat to the stomach inclusive), and found the longest piece 
to be 18 inches ; its breadth was ± of an inch. 
"Wilson, in his e American Ornithology,’ remarks that “ their principal food is a 
broad-leaved marine plant, but that they also eat small shell-fish” (vol. iii. p. 166). 
