BRANTA BERNICLA, BRANT GOOSE. 557 



Anser brenta, Talu, Zoog. R.-A. ii, 1811, 229.— Leach, Cat. 1816, 37.— Flem.. Br. An. 

 127.— Keys. & Blas., Wiib. Eur. 1840, 83.— Swinh., P. Z. S. 1863, 323 (Chiua). 



Bernicia hrenta, Stepii., Gen. Zool. xii, pt. li, 1824, 46.— Eyt., Cat. Br. B. 62; Mou. Anai. 

 1838, 85.— Bp., List, 1838, 56; C. R. Sept. 1856.— Guay, Gen. of B. iii, 1849, 607; 

 Cat. Br. B. 1863, 184.— Reich., Sy-st. Av. 1852, ix, — — Woodh., Sitor. Rep. 1853, 

 102.— Bd., B. N. a. 1858, 767.— Reinh., Ibis, iii, 1861, 12 (Greenland).- Ro.ss, 

 Canad. Nat. vii, Apr. 1862.— Verr., Pr. Ess. Inst. 1862, 153.— Blak., Ibis, 1862, 

 145.— Malmg., J. f. O. 1865, 209 (Spitsbergen).- Dress., Ibis, 1866, 42 (Texas).- 

 Degl.-Gerbe, Orn. Eur. ii, 1867, 489.— Coues, Pr. E.ss. Inst, vi, 1868, 298; Pr. 

 Pliila. Acad. 1871, 36 (Nortli Carolina). 



Amer /o»Y///rt/rt, Fkisch, V6g. Deutschl. ii, pi. l.'MJ.— Bkehm, Eur. V()g. 1823,777.— NiLSS., 

 Orn. Suec. 117.— Jen., Man. 1835, 224.— Naum., V. D. xi, 1842, 391, pi. 292. 



Bvrnicla iorqiiafu, Boie, Isis, 1822, 563.— Brehm, V. D. 851. 



Bernicia mdanoims, Macgil., Man. Orn. ii, 1842, 151. 



Bernidu fjlaucofjasicr, viicropus, plafyurus, coUaris, Brehm., V. D. 849-851. 



b. nigrieans. 



Anser nigricans, Lawk., Ann. Lye. N. Y. iv, 184G, 171, pi. — . 



Bernicia nigricann, Cass., 111. 1853, 52, pi. 10.— Bd., B. N. A. 1858, 767.— Coop. & SrCK., 

 N. H. Wash. Ter. 1860, 252.— Lawr., Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii, 1866, 296 (Long 

 island).— Brown, Ibis, 1868, 425.— U all & Bann., Tr. Chic. Acad, i, 1869, 295 

 . (Ala-ska).- TcRNii., B. E. Pa. 1849, 46 (rare). 



Branta nigricans, Bann., Pr. Pbila. Acad. 1870, 131. 



Branta bernicia var. nigricans, Coues, Key, 1872, 284, fig. 184''. 



Hab. — Europe. North America ; rare or casual on the Pacific. Var. nigricans, rare 

 or casual on the Atlantic. 

 Not obtained bj- the Expeditions. 



While ascendiug the Mi.ssouri in October, 1872, I observed vast num- 

 bers of the Common Brant in tiocks on the banks and mud-bars of the 

 river. It is generally dispersed over the continent, but chiefly in its 

 eastern portions, where var. niffvicans is i are. The hitter almost entirely 

 rephu;es the common form on the Pacific side. 



In the paper by Messrs. Dall and Bannister, above quoted, the fol- 

 lownig passages relating- to the Black Brant occur : "This Goose arrives 

 in immense tiocks, in the spring, along the sea-coast, but is rarely seen 

 on the Yukon. I killed one, May 29, 18G8, at Xulato, which was said 

 to be a very rare visitor. They pass Fort Yukon in the spring, as they 

 do at Saint Michael's, being present but a few days, and breeding on 

 the shores of the Arctic Ocean. I was informed at Fort Yukon that it 

 is not seen there in the fall. Unlike the White Geese, they return to 

 Norton Sound in small numbers in the fall. * * * * ^£\^q f^i^v tlm^- 

 appear at Norton Sound in the fall are the last Geese excepting the 

 caiuKjica. A few of this species were killed at Saint Michael's the season 

 I was there; it was said to be altogether less abundant that spring than 

 ordinarily. It arrives there about the 12th of May, almost the last of 

 all the migratory birds. They were ob.served in the fall of 18(55 (Sep- 

 tember 23), on their return. Usually the Black Brant is said to come in 

 immense tiocks, and to aftord more profitable sport for a few days than 

 all the other si)ecies put together. The flight of the main body ot these 

 migratory birds seems to \\w, to be along the western edge of Saint ]\Ii 

 chael's Island, touching Stewart's Island, and then directly northward, 

 across the ojh'U sea, to Golownin Sound. 1 saw no such large Hocks 

 jiassing the fort as 1 saw down the canal Hying toward Cape Stephens." 

 According to J)r. Suckley these Brant are e.xtremely abundant about 

 the Straits of Fuca in winter, preferring the vicinity of the coast, and 

 subsisting by choice upon sedge-grass growing near .-alt water. On the 

 Atlantic- coast I ha\e noticed the common variety as I.ir as the Carolinas. 



Tho following Anaerinw of North America have not been found ::i the Missouri region : 



