THE BRENT GEESE. 
239 
extended sand-bank becomes dry. Other variations occur in 
their daily routine, such as alighting in the shallows of the 
estuary, and marching in a line to the brow' of the marsh oppo- 
site, which gained, they range themselves along the edge of 
the loose turfs of the saltings ; or, again, they alight in the 
water, and swim a short distance. They are never long silent, 
neither do they associate with other fowl. They generally 
leave the Solway in March and April, but sometimes a few 
linger into May. At that season, pinioned Bernacles exhibit 
much restlessness, and display symptoms of the migratory im- 
pulse by loud calls. Those shot in open weather are con- 
sidered good eating.” 
Nest. — Unknown, in a wild state. 
Eggs. — Those laid in confinement are white. Axis, 275- 
2-9 inches; diam., i-85-2'o. 
II. THE BRENT GOOSE. BRANTA EERNICLA. 
Amer brenta, Pall. Zoogr. Rosso-As. ii. p. 229 (1811); See- 
bohm, Br. B. iii. p. 508 (1885). 
Bertiida brenta, Macg. Br, B. iv. p. 629 (1852); Dresser, B. 
Eur. vi. p. 389, pi. 415, fig. 2 (1877) ; B. O. U. List Br. 
B. p. 117 (1883); Saunders, ed. Yarr. Br. B. iv. p. 290 
(1885) ; id. Man. Br. B. p. 399 (1889) ; Lilford, Col. Fig. 
Brit. B. part xxiv. (1893). 
Anser brenta glaucogaster ifiTthxa.)-, in. p. 508 
(1885). 
Branta bernicla, Salvad. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxvii. p. 119 
(1895)- 
Adult Male. — General colour above greyish-brown, decidedly 
slaty ; the lower back and rump, as well as the central upper 
tail-coverts, darker, the latter inclining to blackish ; wing- 
coverts like the back; bastard-wing, primary-coverts, and quills 
black, the innermost secondaries like the back; the sides of 
the lower rump and the upper tail-coverts white, and hiding 
the tail-feathers, which are black ; head, neck, and upper 
mantle, as well as the throat and fore-neck, sooty-black, with a 
patch of white-tipped feathers on each side of the neck ; breast 
and abdomen brownish-grey, sharply defined against the black 
