312 
BRITISH BIRDS* 
the females and the younger birds, the plumage is 
not fo diftindly marked, and the white fpots on the 
Tides of the neck are often mixed with dufky ; but 
fuch varyings are difcernible in many other birds, 
for it feldom happens that two are found exadlly 
alike. 
The Brent Geefe, like other fpecies of the fame 
genus, quit the rigours of the north in winter, and 
fpread themfelves fouthward in greater or lefs num- 
bers, impelled forward, according to the feverity of 
the feafon, in fearch of milder climates. They are 
then met with on the Britifh fhores, and fpend the 
winter months in the rivers, lakes, and marflies in 
the interior parts, feeding moftly upon the roots, 
and alfo on the blades of the long coarfe graffes and 
plants which grow in the water : but indeed their 
varied modes of living, as well as their other habits 
and propenfities, and their migrations, baitings, 
breeding places, &c. do not differ materially from 
thofe of the other numerous families of the Wild 
Geefe. Buffon gives a detail of the devaflations 
which they made, in the hard v/inters of 1740 and 
1765, upon the corn fields, on the coafts of Picar- 
dy*, in France, where they appeared in fuch im- 
menfe fwarms, that the people were literally raifed 
( en majfe we fuppofe) in order to attempt their ex- 
tirpation, which, however, it feems they could not 
effeQ:, and a change in the weather only, caufed 
thefe unwelcome vifitants to depart. 
