THE BRENT GEESE. 
241 
of the white-breasted form from Novaya Zemlya is in the 
Museum, while Mr. Trevor-Battye found both light and dark- 
breasted individuals on Kolguev. 
Range in Great Britain. — The commonest of all the Geese 
which visit our shores in the winter, and occurring in great 
numbers in certain parts, particularly on the east coasts of 
England and Scotland, as well as in Ireland. On the western 
coasts it is not so common as on those of the east and south. 
Range outside the British Islands. — How far north the Brent 
Goose goes during the breeding-season is not yet discovered, 
but its range probably extends as far as land is known. From 
the Taimyr Peninsula it ranges westward throughout the 
Arctic Regions in summer, the dark-bellied form being the 
principal inhabitant of Novaya Zemlya, Spitsbergen, Kolguev, 
&c., though not exclusively, as has already been pointed out, 
and the light-breasted form taking its place from Greenland to 
the Parry Islands. In winter it migrates south, and occurs 
along the coasts of Northern and Western Europe, even occa- 
sionally visiting the Mediterranean countries. 
Hahits.— This Goose is entirely a maritime species, and 
mostly feeds during the day-time. Mr. Howard Saunders 
says that it docs not dive, but searches on the ooze, or with 
head and neck extended below the surface of the water in 
shallow places, for aquatic plants, “especially grass-wrack 
{Zos/era marina) and laver ( Viva latissima ) ; whence the local 
names ‘Ware-Goose’ and ‘Rood-Goose,’ i.e., ‘ Root-Goose ’ j 
small crustaceans and marine insects are also eaten. The call- 
note is a loud cro7ik or honh, audible at a considerable distance.” 
The Brent Goose breeds in Kolguev Island, according to 
the admission of the Samoyeds, but Mr. Trevor-Battye never 
saw the nest or the egg. Vast numbers of old and young 
birds appear off the sand-banks in July, and he describes 
in a graphic manner in his work, “ Ice-bound on Kolguev,” 
the way in which the Geese are trapped on that island by the 
Samoyeds — by placing a large net supported on poles, and 
sending men out in boats to drive the Geese inland. At this 
time of year the Brent Geese are moulting and cannot fly, and 
are gradually driven into the trap by the natives, and all 
slaughtered. On the occasion when Mr. Trevor-Battye wit- 
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