Ii^O MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 



73 [173] Branta bernicia (Linn.). 

 Brant. 



Common transient visitor ; April to May 1 2 ; September 1 2 to December 6. 



The December 6th date records a flock of thirty Brant that I saw, in 1903, 

 flying by Ipswich Beach. They are rather irregular as to their numbers in the 

 migrations along the Essex County coast, many being seen in some years, and 

 very few in others. They rarely appear before October. They occasionally 

 alight on the beach, and although I have never seen them there myself, I have 

 several reports for both spring and fall. On November 25th, 1900, Mr. J. M. 

 Dodge found an enormous flock of Brant on Ipswich Beach, estimated to be over 

 a thousand in number, and more flying by. He shot one of the birds on the 

 beach with a rifle so there is no doubt as to their identification. Brant occasion- 

 ally alight on the water at the mouths of the creeks and rivers, but as a rule 

 they keep farther out at sea. Dr. Phillips has never seen any at Wenham Lake, 

 but one was shot and several others seen at Chebacco Lake, on November 26th, 

 1900. 



Brant are easily recognized by their smaller size as compared with Canada 

 Geese, and by their black necks and breast. The white streaks on the sides of 

 the neck can be made out with a glass. 



[175] Branta leucopsis (Bechst.). Barnacle Goo.se. This Old World species is recorded 

 without comment bj Putnam ' among the accidental visitors. As there is no specimen in 

 existence, I ha%'e placed the bird in the doubtful list. Howe and Allen ^ give only one definite 

 record for the State, of a bird shot at North Chatham, on November 1st, 1S95. 



74 [180] Olor columbianus (Ord). 

 Whistling Swan. 



Accidental visitor. 



There is a specimen in the collection of the Boston Society of Natural 

 History shot at Nahant, about 1864, by a Mr. Taylor .^ Mr. C. J. Maynard* 



1 F. W. Putnam : Proc. Essex Inst., vol. i, p. 225, 1856. 



2 R. H. Howe, Jr., and G. M. Allen: The Birds of Massachusetts, p. 50, 1901. 

 ^ Wm. Brewster : Bull. Nuttall Cm. Club, vol. 4, p. 125, 1879. 



*C. J. Maynard; The Naturalist's Guide, p. 146, 1870. 



