THE BRENT GEESE. 
24.'5 
in Siberia, above the limit of forest-growth, and was found 
breeding by Middendorf on the Boganida. It winters on the 
Caspian Sea, and has occurred in most countries of Europe at 
that season of tlie year. Lord Lilford possesses an Egyptian 
specimen, collected by the late Mr. Stafford Allen, and it is 
no doubt an occasional winter visitant to that country, as the 
species is often depicted on the ancient monuments. 
Habits. — The Red-breasted Goose is such a rare bird in 
most parts of Europe, and has its breeding-range so restricted 
to Siberia, that very little has been recorded about the halhts 
of the species. Mr. Seebohm, wlio is one of the few English 
naturalists who have seen this Goose in a state of nature, has 
given the following notes on it : “ Radde describes its great 
abundance in winter on the islands near the south-western 
shores of the Caspian. After a heavy fall of snow, the fisher- 
men clear a space on the grassy islands, and often catch them 
in such numbers in nets that they are sold at from five to ten 
kopecks apiece. When they begin to collect before migration, 
thousands of flocks arc reported to be seen, and it is stated 
that the worst shots obtain as many as two hundred birds 
during the season. When feeding together they utter a short 
trumpet-like note ; but their cry, as they call to each other on 
migration, is a double note, which Finsch says is easily 
imitated with the aid of a bit of birch-bark, and which Pallas 
represents as resembling the sound of the syllables, shak-voy, 
whence its local name among the Russian sportsmen of 
Obdorsk. It is an extremely shy bird and very difficult to 
shoot, but, curiously enough, reconciles itself at once to con- 
finement, and soon becomes very tame. The only information 
which we possess respecting its winter habits is that furnished 
us by Radde, who states that it is a very gregarious bird, 
always seen in flocks which frequent the pastures on the 
southern shores of the Caspian during the day, and retire far 
out to sea for the night.” 
Nest. — Said by Mr. Seebohm’s collectors to be indistinguish- 
able from that of the Bean-Goose, except that it was somewhat 
smaller. 
Eggs. — These are laid early in July. The colour, according 
to Mr. Seebohm, is “ creamy-white, with obscure traces of an 
