. Cassell's book of birds . Geese THE SWIMMERS. 137 when fat are excellent eating. In confinement they are at first exceedingly timid, but soon becomereconciled to their new condition, and even show marked attachment to those who feed them, comingat their call, and, if kindly treated, following their footsteps like dogs. In a farmyard, or upon alarge pond, they are extremely ornamental, and deserve much more attention than they have asyet received. The Brent Geese have been long known to breed in considerable numbers on theshores of Spitzbergen, but it is only recently that we have had any def
. Cassell's book of birds . Geese THE SWIMMERS. 137 when fat are excellent eating. In confinement they are at first exceedingly timid, but soon becomereconciled to their new condition, and even show marked attachment to those who feed them, comingat their call, and, if kindly treated, following their footsteps like dogs. In a farmyard, or upon alarge pond, they are extremely ornamental, and deserve much more attention than they have asyet received. The Brent Geese have been long known to breed in considerable numbers on theshores of Spitzbergen, but it is only recently that we have had any definite accounts of theirproceedings. Malmgren tells us that their breeding-places are chiefly to be met with in the westernand northern coasts of the island, and on the rocks in the vicinity, more especially in places resortedto by Eider Ducks. Their nests are very rudely constructed with the stems and leaves of water-plants,and are often placed so close to those of the Eider Duck that those birds frequently steal their eggs. THE BRENT GOOSE (Bernic/a torquata). ONE-FIFTH NATURAL SIZE. in great numbers. The brood of the Brent Goose consists of from six to eight comparatively small,thin-shelled, lustreless eggs, of a dirty, greenish white colour. Middendorf found a young bird newlyhatched about the middle of July. Further than this we have no information. Upon the southern coasts of the Baltic and in Holland, during the spring and autumn, thousandsof these birds are shot, and a still greater number captured by means of decoys. Their flesh is muchesteemed, but has occasionally a disagreeable rancid taste, probably owing to the shell-fish upon whichthey feed. To remedy this, it is usual in Holland to keep them for some time before they are killed,feeding them with grain and other vegetable diet. The FOXY GEESE (Chenalofiex) are at once recognisable from the above species by their slender neck, large head, short beak, high foot, broad wing, and beautiful plumage. The somewhat feeble
Size: 1828px × 1368px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthorbreh, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectbirds
