82 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



over water. The Brant is a particular favorite with sportsmen, and 

 many are shot from points of land which project out into the sea. 



The common Brant Goose is said to breed in immense numbers in 

 Spitzbergen and on the islands about the coast. The nest is con- 

 structed on the sandy beaches, of feathers and down, the birds deposit- 

 ing from four to six eggs. In Greenland where this species breeds, 

 some of the birds make their nests on cliffs. 



The eggs are grayish or dirty-white, and measure 2.92x2.02. 



174. Branta nigricans (LAWR.) [596.] 



Black Brant. 



Hab. Arctic and Western North America; rare in the Atlantic States. 



The Black Brant is very closely allied to the common Brant 

 Goose; it is found on the Pacific coast, where the latter does not 

 occur. Its summer home is in high latitudes, and in Alaska, the 

 mouth of the Yukon, is said probably to form the extreme southern 

 limit of this bird's occurrence in the breeding season. Breeds in 

 abundance on islands northeast of the mouth of Anderson River, in 

 Liverpool Bay on the Arctic coast, on the shores of Franklin Bay, and 

 on various other parts of the coast, especially in regions west of 

 Anderson River. In these regions, according to Dr. Brewer, nests were 

 found by Mr. MacFarlane on small islets in fresh water ponds ; others 

 on islands in the Anderson near its mouth ; many were made on the 

 shore or on islands in Franklin Bay, and in various parts of the Arctic 

 Sea. Some of the nests were nothing but mere depressions lined with 

 down, while in others the quantity of down was quite large. The 

 number of eggs in a nest was generally five ; but in one case as many 

 as seven were seen, and in six or seven instances six. 



The eggs are grayish-white, and range from 2.75 to 2.90 long by 

 i. 80 to 1.85 broad. 



[175.] Branta leucopsis (BECHST.) [597.] 



Barnacle Goose. 



Hab. Northern parts of the Old World; casual in Eastern North America. 



The Barnacle Goose inhabits the northern portions of Europe and 

 is occasionally found on the Atlantic coast of North America. But 

 many of the specimens taken on this side of the Atlantic are birds 

 that are supposed to have escaped from confinement. 



In great Britain it is a winter visitant. During the migrations it 

 is said to be found in great numbers along the coast of Norway, and at 

 these seasons it is stated to be abundant in Holland, France and Ger- 

 many. It is said to occur during the breeding season in Northern 



