THE BRANT. 71 



that arrive on our coasts about the beginning of October, individuals 

 frequently occur corresponding in their markings with that called the 

 Barnacle of Europe, that is, in having the upper parts lighter, and the 

 front, cheeks, and chin whitish. These appear evidently a variety of 

 the Brant, probably young birds ; what strengthens this last opinion is 

 the fact that none of them are found so marked on their return north- 

 ward in the spring. 



The Brant is expected at Egg Harbor on the coast of New Jersey 

 about the first of October, and has been sometimes seen as early as the 

 twentieth of September. The first flocks generally remain in the bay 

 a few days, and then pass on to the south. On recommencing their 

 journey, they collect in one large body, and making an extensive spiral 

 course, some miles in diameter, rise to a great height in the air, and 

 then steer for the sea, over Avhich they uniformly travel ; often making 

 wide circuits to avoid passing over a projecting point of land. In these 

 aerial routes they have been met with many leagues from shore, travel- 

 ling the whole night. Their line of march very much resembles that 

 of the Canada Goose, Avith this exception, that frequently three or four 

 are crowded together in the front, as if striving for precedency. Flocks 

 continue to arrive from the north, and many remain in the bay till 

 December, or until the weather becomes very severe, when these also 

 move off southwardly. During their stay they feed on the bars at low 

 water, seldom or never in the marshes ; their principal food being a 

 remarkably long and broad-leaved marine plant, of a bright green color, 

 which adheres to stones, and is called by the country people sea cab- 

 bage ; the leaves of this are sometimes eight or ten inches broad by two 

 or three feet in length ; they also eat small shell fish. They never dive, 

 but wade about feeding at low water. During the time of high water 

 they float in the bay in long lines, particularly in calm weather. Their 

 voice is hoarse and honking, and Avhen some hundreds are screaming 

 together, reminds one of a pack of hounds in full cry. They often 

 quarrel among themselves, and with the Ducks, driving the latter off 

 their feeding ground. Though it never dives in search of food, yet 

 when wing broken the Brant will go one hundred yards at a stretch 

 under water ; and is considered, in such circumstances, one of the most 

 difficult birds to kill. About the fifteenth or twentieth of May they 

 reappear on their way north ; but seldom stop long, unless driven in by 

 tempestuous weather. 



The breeding place of the Brant is supposed to be very far to the 

 north. They are common at Hudson's Bay, very numerous in winter 

 on the coasts of Holland and Ireland ; are called in Shetland Harra 

 Geese, from their frequenting the sound of that name ; they also visit 

 the coast of England. Buffon relates, that in the severe winters of 

 1740 and 1765, during the prevalence of a strong north wind, the Brant 



