400 NOVA SCOTIAN ZOOLOGY — PIERS. 



Austen, of Dartmouth, obtained a Nova Scotian specimen about 

 the beginning- of February, 1894. 



King Eider (Somateria spectabUis). On 4th April, 1894, a 

 Kiner Eider was brought to Halifax, which had been shot at 

 Sambro, Halifax County, about 21st March. Another was 

 brought from Lawrencetown, to the north-east of Halifax, on 

 7th April, 1894. It \\as quite fresh and had evidently been 

 killed two or three da^^s before. Both were mounted by Mr. 

 Egan. Mr. F. Bell also has a specimen. 



Greater Snow Goose (Chen hyperborea nivalis). According 

 to Mr. James McKinlay, this species is seen at intervals in Pictou 

 County early in the season, either in small numbers or else 

 sinfifly in company with the Canada Goose. An instance oc- 

 curred in April, 1894, at Caribou Harbour, at which place geese 

 are wont to congregate in large flocks during the vernal and 

 autumnal migrations. It did not fly with the Canada Geese ; 

 and when it attempted to join them, it was driven back. Mr. 

 McKinlay tells me that half a century ago the species was less 

 uncommon in the county just mentioned, and on two occasions a 

 small flock of Ave or six was observed. It was impossible, how- 

 ever, to approach within shooting distance of the birds, owing to 

 their extreme wariness. They were rarely seen to alight, and 

 only then on some long, bare sand beech or exposed salt-water 

 marsh. Their colour apparently was pure A\'hite. Unfortunately 

 none have yet been shot. Mr. Downs recorded several specimens 

 in his catalogue, and there is also one, I understand, in the Mc- 

 Culloch collection, Dalhousie College Museum. 



Brant (Branta bernicla). A curious freak of nature is 

 seen in a female Brant which Mr. Egan purchased on 9th 

 April, 1894. It came from Amherst, N. S. In ordinary indi- 

 viduals the head, neck, body anteriorly, quills, and tail are black, 

 and the back brownish-gray. The neck of the present one is 

 not <if the normal colour, but white; the head, bill, sides of breast, 

 back, wings, tail, and legs, only being blackisli. The dark colour 

 of the head extends posteriorly as far as the occiput, whereas 

 anteriorly it extends to the lowest part of the throat, or perhaps 

 somewhat bcycnd. The eyes were of the ordinary colour. Mr. 



