468 LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — AN SERES. 



niiup. Breast, abtlnnu'ii, sides, and flanks much like the upper parts, but the light tips to the 

 feathers wliiter, l)roaik-r, and more conspicuous ; anal region and crissuni ininiaculate snow-white. 

 Wing, ii.'SO inches; culnien, 1.20 ; tarsus, 2.05 ; middle toe, 1.70. Young (No. 1278G, Washing- 

 ton, D. C, Decenil)er, 18')8 ; C Drexler) : Similar to the aduU, Ijut the wing-coverts and sec- 

 ondaries Ijroadly tipped witli ]mre white, lorming very conspicuous bars. Lower parts paler and 

 more unii'oriu ; white on middle of the neck reduced to small specks. 



Two adult specimens from Europe differ from any in a series of four American skins (adidts), 

 in larger size and slightly paler colors ; the dilferences are so slight, however, that they probably 

 would Hut prove constant, if more exami>les were compared. Indeed, a third European specimen, 

 labelletl (by ScHi-iJTER) " hoher Norden," is nearly as dark everywhere as B. nigricans, and would 

 be instantly referred to that species, were it not for the white neck-patches, which are exactly 

 as in typical brcnta — that is, widely separated in front, as well as behind. It may be a hybrid 

 between the two. 



The Common Brant Goose has an almost cosmopolitan distribution. In the summer 

 it retires to very high northern latitudes to breed, and in the autumn and winter 

 wanders over large portions of both the Old and the New World. It is found in all 

 the high Arctic regions of Asia and Europe, and in North America east of the Eocky 

 IVIountains. In the western portions of America it is replaced by B. nigricans, a 

 closely allied form. It is almost unknown in the interior. A single example taken 

 on Lake Michigan, near Eacine, by Dr. Hoy, is the only exception, so far as I know. 



Hearne was convinced that this bird must breed in the remote north, as it sel- 

 dom appeared at Churchill Eiver until September. Its route in the spring was 

 unknown, nor did any of the Hudson's Bay Indians know of its breeding-place. It 

 always came from the north in its visits to Churchill Eiver, flew near the margin of 

 the coast, and was never seen in the interior. Its flesh, although delicate to the eye, 

 was not mucdi esteemed as food. In some years birds of this species passed the 

 mouth of Cliurchill Eiver in incredible numbers. In their movements south they 

 usually aviiilfd themselves of a strong northerly or northwesterly wind ; and this 

 made their flight so swift, that once, when JMr. Hearne killed four or five at a single 

 sliot, they all fell from twenty to fifty yards beyond the place where they were hit. 

 When in large flocks they are known to fly, in the manner of the Snow Goose, in the 

 form of a wedge, and to make a great noise. Their flight is irregular, sometimes 

 being forty or fifty yards above the Avater, and yet, an instaiit later, they may be seen 

 skimming close to its surface, then again they will rise to a considerable height; so 

 that by some they are said to "fly in festoons." 



According to Eichardson, this species breeds on the shores and among the islands 

 of the Arctic Sea, and keeps near the sea-coast in its migrations. It is rarely, if ever, 

 seen in the interior. As no mention is made among the records of the Smithsonian 

 Institution of this Goose being known to breed on the coast of the Arctic Sea, 

 Eichardson may have been mistaken in this supposition. He mentions its feeding 

 on mollus(;a, the Ulva lactuca, and other marine plants — chiefly upon the latter, 

 from which its flesh acquires a strong flavor. It is said to leave its breeding-quarters 

 in September. 



Dr. Bessels includes this species among the birds procured on the "Polaris" Ex- 

 pedition (" Bulletin de la Socicte de Geographic," March, 1875) ; and Mr. Eeilden 

 (" Ibis," October, 1877) also includes it among the birds procured in the British Arc- 

 tic Expedition of 1875-1870, and supplies the following interesting note : "During 

 the first week of June, ])arties of these birds arrived in the vicinity of our winter- 

 quarters (lat. 82° 27' jST.) ; for some days they continued flying up and down the 

 coast-line, evidently looking out for places bare of snow to feed on. They were very 



