BRANT — WHISTLING SWAN. 101 



encroachment of the white upon its posterior Ijorder gives a mottled 

 gray and white surface." 



I have given the above details in full, so that anyone meeting the 

 species may be able to identify it. 



BRANTA BEUNTCLA (Lixx.). 

 fif). Brant. (17:?) 



Bill, feet and claws, black ; head, neck all rouiiil and a little of the forepart 

 of the bod}', glossy black ; on each side of the neck a small patch of white 

 streaks, also some touches of white on the eyelids and chin; breast, ashy-gray, 

 beginning abruptly from the black, fading on the belly and crissum into white ; 

 tail feathers, wing quills and primary coverts, blackish, the inner quills whitish 

 toward the base. Length, 24 inches ; tail, 4-.'i. 



Hab. — Northern portions of uoithern hemisphere, partial to salt water, rare 

 in the interior. Breeds only within the Arctic circle. 



Nest, a hollow on a sandy laeach, lined with feathers and down. 



Eggs, four to six, grayish or dirty white. 



This is another casual visitor to the waters of Ontario, where it is 

 less frecjuently seen than any other of the geese. It is by no means 

 a scarce species, but seems partial to the sea coast. In Mr. Saunders' 

 " List of Birds of Western Ontario," it is mentioned as a rather rare 

 migrant. I have only seen it once, flying past out of range. 



The Brant is of almost cosmopolitan distribution, being found on 

 the sea coast of Europe and eastern North America, breeding only 

 within the Arctic circle. It is said to breed in immense numbers in 

 Spitzbergen and on the islands along the coast. On the rocky 

 shores of Greenland, where it also breeds, the nests are often placed 

 on the ledses of the rocks. 



Subfamily CYGNIN^. Swans. 



Genus OLOR Wagler. 



OLOR COLUMBIANUS (Ord.). 



67. Whistling Swan. (180) 



Pure white ; head often stained with rusty ; bill, black, usiuilly with small 

 yellow spot; iris, dark brown; feet, black. Length, 4i feet ; wing, 21 -'22 inches. 



Hab. — The whole of North America, breeding far north. 



Nest, in a tussock of grass near the water, often surrounded by it so closely 

 that the bird while sitting on the eggs has her feet submerged. 



Eggs, two to five, white, often stained with brown. 



