GEESE. 123 



Range. — Pacific coast of Nortli America, breeding chiotty about the shores 

 of Novion Sound and the lower Yukon ; south in winter to California, and, 

 more rarely, to upper Mississippi Valley (Wisconsin, etc.) (Ridgw.). 



173. Branta bernicla {Linn.). Brant. .'Id— Head, neck, throat, 

 and upper breast black ; sides of the neck speckled with white; back brown- 

 ish gray, margined with grayish brown ; longer and lateral upper tail-coverts 

 white; lower breast ashy gray fading to white on the lower belly; sides 

 darker. Im. — Similar, but with less white on the sides of the neck and 

 vving-coverts, antl secondaries tipped with white. L., 26'00; \V., 13-20; Tar., 

 2-20; B., 1-35. 



Range. — Northern parts of the northern hemispliere; breeds Avithin the 

 Arctic Circle ; in America, migrates southward along the Atlantic coast, reach- 

 ing the Carolinas in winter; rare in the interior. 



Washington, rare W. V. Long Island, conunon T. V., Nov. 1 to May 15; 

 a few winter. Sing Sing, A. V. 



Nest., of grasses, moss, etc., lined with down, on the ground. Eggs., four, 

 smooth and creamy white in color, 2-70 x 1-80 (Saunders). 



" Its manner of flying is different from that of the Canada Goose — 

 moving in more compact bodies, less rapidly, and without seeming to 

 have a chosen leader — that marked characteristic in the flight of the 

 latter. 



" While in our bays it appears inactive, seldom taking to wing un- 

 less disturbed by a passing boat or the near report of a gun. 



"Tlie Brent rises slowly, and when on the wing moves sluggishly 

 for a short distance, and, if not attracted by a distant flock, frequently 

 returns to the place it had left. Its food consists of a marine plant 

 {Zostera marina), commonly called 'eel grass.' At low water it is 

 seen industriously at work tearing up its favorite plant. After the 

 tide has risen to such a heiglit as to compel it to relinquish its voca- 

 tion, it is seen drifting with the current, feeding sumptuously on the 

 fruits of its labor" (Giraud). 



174. Branta nigricans {Lawr.). Black Brant.— Bears a general 

 resemblance to the preceding species, but may be readily di^^tinguished by its 

 much darker lower breast and upper belly, which are nearly as dark as the 

 back, and by having white nuirkings on the front as well as on the sides of 

 the neck. 



Range.— '■' AycXag and western North America; rare or casual on tlie At- 

 lantic coast" (A. O. U.). " Breeds in abundance on the arctic coast of Liver- 

 pool Bay " (Macfarlane). 



Long Island, A. V. 



Xest, of grasses, moss, etc., lined with down, on the ground. Eggs, five to 

 seven, dull ivory-white or grayish white, 2-85 x 1-82 (B., B., and R.). 



This is the western representative of the preceding species. It is 

 of casual occurrence on the Atlantic coast. 



