[Illustration]
This is of nearly the same shape, but somewhat less than the Bean Goose,
from which it differs in the colour of its plumage, being mostly of a
uniform brown, the feathers edged with ash; the upper parts, breast and
neck, are darker than the belly, which is more mixed and dappled with
paler cinereous and gray: the head and upper half of the neck are black,
excepting a white patch on each side of the latter, near the throat: the
lower part of the back and rump are also black: the tail, quills, and
legs dusky: the bill is dark, rather of a narrow shape, and only about
an inch and a half long: the irides are light hazel. In the female and
the younger birds, the plumage is not so distinctly marked, and the
white spots on the sides of the neck are often mixed with dusky; but
such varyings are discernible in many other birds, for it seldom happens
that two are found exactly alike.
The brent geese, like other species of the same genus, quit the rigours
of the north in winter, and spread themselves southward in greater or
less numbers, impelled forward, according to the severity of the season,
in search of milder climates. They are then met with on the British
shores, and spend the winter months in the rivers, lakes, and marshes in
the interior parts, feeding mostly upon the roots, and also on the
blades of the long course grasses and plants which grow in the water;
but, indeed, their varied modes of living, as well as their other habits
and propensities, and their migrations, haltings, breeding-places, &c.,
do not differ materially from those of the other numerous families of
the wild geese. Buffon gives a detail of the devastations which they
made, in the hard winters of 1740 and 1765, upon the corn-fields on the
coasts of Picardy in France, where they appeared in such immense swarms,
that the people were literally raised (en masse we suppose) in order to
attempt their extirpation, which, however, it seems they could not
effect, and a change in the weather only caused these unwelcome
visitants to depart.
The brent and the bernacle were formerly, by some ornithologists, looked
upon as being of the same species; later observers, however, have
decided differently, and they are now classed as distinct
kinds.—_Bewick._
BRET, _s._ A fish of the turbot kind.
BREW, _v._ To make liquors by mixing several ingredients; to prepare
by mixing things together.
BRIDLE, _s._ The headstall and reins by which a horse is restrained
and governed; a restraint, a curb, a check.
BRIDLE, _v._ To guide by a bridle; to restrain, to govern.
BRIDLE-HAND, _s._ The hand which holds the bridle in riding.
BRIERY, _a._ Rough, full of briers.
BRIG, _s._ A square-rigged vessel with two masts.
[Illustration]
This class of vessels are generally employed as merchantmen and
cruisers; and from their sea-worthy qualities and handy rig, are at once
safe and easily worked. Latterly they have been introduced into the
Royal Yacht Club; and the proud boast of having built one of the fastest
and finest vessels in the world, has been recently achieved by the Earl
of Belfast.
The Water Witch is 331 tons measurement, and has more than realised all
that a builder could expect. She has, in every trial, proved her
superiority; and in all weathers maintained a decided advantage over
every antagonist. A letter from the noble owner, elicited by some
trifling misstatement, concerning her model, &c., appeared in a late
number of the _Sporting Magazine_, and as it is briefly descriptive of
this beautiful brig, we have transferred it from the periodical.
“Her stern is upright, and, consequently, not so handsome as if it had
more over-hung; but being built for a man-of-war, the intention (which
has completely succeeded) was to enable her to run two guns out astern
without a platform, which most vessels are obliged to have, and which is
exceedingly inconvenient, inasmuch as it takes up a considerable portion
of the quarter-deck.
“As regards the quantity of canvas, her sails are the same size as a
ten-gun brig; nor has she any advantage in being without fittings below,
having all the bulk-heads up (with the exception of the one that ought
to divide the captain’s cabin from the gun-room), which was omitted, to
make a larger and more airy cabin for my friends.
“Add to this, that she had her full weight of stores, &c., on board, as
if provisioned for five months, with eight eighteen-pound carronades,
and two long six-pounders, three boats, all spare spars, &c., on deck.
“I have only to add, that to this day she has beaten everything that has
ever attempted to sail with her, both large and small; and although His
Majesty’s ship Vernon (two thousand two hundred tons) had the advantage
in light breezes of her one day, by crossing to windward of her, (after
a trial of eight hours) about a cable’s length, she having started half
a cable’s length to leeward of the Vernon, I understand she retaliated
next day by beating the Vernon (under double-reefed topsails and
top-gallant sails and considerable head-sea) two or three miles. I can
also state, she never took advantage of any of her opponents in
starting; and that I should not have the least objection to change her
eighteen-pounders for four and twenty-pounders, and sail any
square-rigged vessel (now built) in England for whatever sum they
please.”
BRIGANDINE, or BRIGANTINE, _s._ A light vessel, such as has been
formerly used by corsairs or pirates. They are still used in the
Mediterranean.
BRIGHT, _a._ Shining, glittering, full of light; clear.
BRILLIANT, _a._ Shining, sparkling.
BRIMSTONE, _s._ Sulphur.
BRINDED, _a._ Streaked, tabby.
BRINDLE, _s._ The state of being brinded.
BRINDLED, _a._ Brinded, streaked.
BRINE, _s._ Water impregnated with salt, the sea.
BRISKET, _s._ The breast of an animal.
BRISTLE, _s._ The stiff hair of swine. Hogs’ bristles for fly tying
are dyed in the same manner as feathers and wool. They require,
however, to be kept longer in the dye-pot.
BRISTLE, _v._ To stand erect as bristles.
BRIT, _s._ The name of a fish.
BROACH, _v._ To spit, to pierce as with a spit; to pierce a vessel
in order to draw the liquor.
BROCK, _s._ A badger.
BROCKET, _s._ A red deer, two years old.
BROGUE, _s._ A kind of shoe; a corrupt dialect.
BROIL, _v._ To dress or cook by laying on the coals.
BROKE. Preterimperfect tense of the verb _To break_. Applied to a
dog when perfect in field discipline.