off seaward in a northerly direction. When feeding, which they do at the ebb of the tide, or moving- 
from one place to another, they keep np a continual hoarse cackling or, as it is termed, honking 
noise, which can be heard at a great distance, and has not unaptly been compared, when so heard, 
to the cry of a pack of hounds. They are at all times extremely watchful, and can only be approached 
within gunshot by the person of the shooter being concealed. This is effected, in the northern 
parts of the kingdom, by means of a flat-bottomed boat, so built as to draw very little water, 
and whose gunwale barely rises above the surface, armed with a large fowling-piece that traverses 
the half-deck upon a swivel. In this boat the fowler lies flat, and directs its motion by a paddle or 
small oar till he comes within range of the flock, when he fires either as they float upon the water 
or just as they rise. Great havoc is sometimes made in this way, not only amongst the Brent Geese 
but amongst Widgeon and other kinds of wild-fowl, as we learn from Colonel Hawker’s amusing 
treatise, to which I refer my readers, and where they will find every direction necessary for this 
particular kind of sporting. Upon Holy Island sandy flats, where the above method was introduced 
about 1829, by a man from the Norfolk coast, I am credibly Informed that about twenty-two Brent 
Geese were killed and secured at one discharge during the season of 1831. Previously to this mode 
of shooting being adopted, all the Brent Geese and different species of Ducks upon our northern 
coast were killed by moonlight, by fovvlers placing themselves in various parts of the lake and patiently 
waiting for the approach of the wild fowl as they flew about in quest of feeding-places. Their polar 
or summer migration is directed to very high latitudes, where they breed and rear their young in 
quiet security. The nest is formed of vegetable materials, in the swamps of those desolate regions ; 
and they lay ten or twelve white eggs. . . . When captured alive, this Goose may soon be rendered 
very tame (as I have found from experience), and, being a bird of handsome figure and light 
carriage, is a considerable acquisition on large pieces of water. No steady attempts, however, appear 
to have been yet made to increase the breed in a domestic state, though, as an article of food, it 
is superior to most of the Anatidce, and equally valuable in the quality of its feathers and down. 
When tame, it eats readily all kinds of grain, as well as grass and other vegetable diet.” 
Mr. Thompson, who states that it is abundant in Ireland, occurring on both sides of the island, 
wherever there is plenty of its favourite Zostera marina, gives a very long account of its habits, as 
observed in Belfast Bay {pide ‘ Natural History of Ireland,’ vol. iii. p. 54). He says, “ they generally 
arrive there by the first week of September, and sometimes remain until May. Strictly marine, they 
fly to the deep water in the afternoon, and remain there during the night, and at sunrise return to 
their feeding-grounds, generally proceeding in small flocks, and alighting altogether about the same 
place. They are very wary, and avoid in their flight any objects with which they are not familiar. 
They swim quickly, do not often dive, and usually remain but a short time under water. 
It would seem that the food of this bird varies according to circumstances : thus on the coast of 
Northumberland it appears to feed on Uha latissima, in Ireland and Scotland on Zostera marina, in 
Hudson’s Bay on Ulm lactuca^ and in America, according to Wilson, it also partakes of “small 
shell-fish.” 
Two eggs, from Parry’s second Expedition, presented to Professor Jameson by Mr. Fisher, are thus 
described by Macgillivray ; — “One is two inches and a half in length by an inch and five and a half 
eighths ; the other, two inches and five-eighths by an inch and six and a half eighths. They are of 
a nearly elliptical form, the broadest part being almost central, and one end a little larger than the 
other ; the colour of one asparagus-green or pale greyish green, of the other paler and approaching 
to apple-green.” Mr. Hewitson, on the other hand, says, “ the eggs of this species differ from 
those of the other Geese in being slightly tinted with a faint brownish colouring, whilst they are all, 
when quite fresh, either pure white or slightly tinted with cream-colour.” 
Some slight variation occurs in the colouring of different individuals ; but this, I think, is due to 
age, and I believe that both sexes are alike in outward appearance at the same period of their 
existence. 
I cannot close this memoir of the Brent Goose without recording my obligations to the Earl of 
Enniskillen for his kindness in sending me a fine pair of these birds from Ireland, for the furtherance 
of this work, and that I might have an opportunity of testing the quality of their flesh as a viand, 
which I found juicy and excellent. The average weight of the two birds was three pounds and a 
quarter. 
The Figures are about three-fourths of the natural size. 
