54 
BRENT GOOSE. 
black, tipped with orange ; quill-feathers black, edged with yellow on 
their exterior webs ; on three or four of the primores a spot of white 
runs through the whole of the exterior web, and forms an oblique bar 
when the wing is closed ; the belly and rump white ; on the sides above 
the thighs are a few^ round black spots ; the tail is a little forked, the 
exterior feather white on the outer web, the others black, except 
the two middle, which are edged and tipped with ash-colour ; legs 
greyish brown. 
The female is much less bright in the colour of the plumage : the 
side of the head and back of the neck is grey ; on the latter are two 
dusky lines passing from the head downwards ; the top of the head and 
back dusky, each feather deeply margined with grey, which gives 
those parts a pretty mottled appearance ; the rufous on the breast and 
wings very faint, but the markings correspond with those of the other 
sex. 
We have not been able to discover that this bird has ever bred with 
us, but they are frequently seen on the coast of Kent and Sussex, in 
the winter, in large flocks, and in such an exhausted state as to suffer 
themselves to be taken. They are also found in the interior parts of 
the kingdom at that season, in company with the chaffinches and 
yellow-hammers. By observation on those we have kept in confine- 
ment, it is a hardy, bold bird, feeding on most kinds of seed usually 
given to caged birds ; it is said to be particularly fond of beech mast. It 
is common in many parts of the European continent, and most probably 
breeds in the northern parts of it : it is said to build in fir trees, and 
form a nest with moss, lined with wool and feathers, and to lay four or 
five yellowish spotted eggs. * Fleming informs us that it changes its 
colour with the season, becoming whiter in severe winters.* 
BRANT AIL. — A name for the Red-start. 
BRENT GOOSE Willughby.) 
*Anas Bernicla, Linn. Syst. l.p. 198.13. — Gmel. Syst.2. p. 513 — Ind. Orn. 2. p. 
844. 3. — Temtn. 2. p. 824- — Brenta, RuH, Syn. p. 130. 8. — Will. p. 275. t. 69. 
— Briss. 6. p. 304. 16. t. 31. — Ib. 8vo. 2. p. 442. — Le Cravant, Buff, 9. p. 87. 
—Brent or Brand Goose, Br. Zool. 2. No. 270. — Ib. fob 151.^ — Tb. Add. i. 9. 
— Arct. Zool. 2. No. 478. — lb. Supp. p, 75. — Albin, 1. t. 93. — Will. (Ang.) p. 
360. — Haye’s Br. Birds, t. 25. — Lath. Syn. 6, p. 467. 27. — Lewin's Br. Birds, 
7. t. 243 Full. Cat. Dorset, p. 20. — Wale. Syn. l.t. 63. — Lister, Phil. Trans, 
15. p. 1159.-— F/em. Br. Anini. 126. 
Provincial . — Wilk Bob. Road Goose. Clatter Goose.* 
This species is considerably less than the bernacle. The specimen 
now before us, weighed two pounds twelve ounces ; length twenty-nine 
inches ; bill short and black ; irides dusky or dark brown ; the head, 
neck, and upper part of the breast black ; on each side the small part of 
