BLACK BRANT. ^1 



flocks of migrating birds rarely come up to the land or 

 to points of marsh where there is any opportunity for 

 concealment, and thus few are shot from the shore, ex- 

 cept on the bars. 



The range of the black brant has already been given. 

 Two or three specimens have been taken on the Atlantic 

 coast, but these were merely stragglers. On the Pacific 

 coast in winter it is found on salt water bays and estu- 

 aries, from the straits of Fuca south to San Diego. 

 They make their appearance in October, and leave again 

 in April. 



Black brant appear to be very little shot, notwith- 

 standing their great numbers. On their northward 

 migration they usually proceed in small flocks of from 

 twenty to fift}^, but at times collect in such immense 

 numbers that great quantities of them are killed. This 

 is especially true if the birds have to wait near the edge 

 of the ice for the northern waters, which they are seek- 

 ing, to become open. 



The black brant breeds near the Arctic Ocean. Mr. 

 Macfarlane found their nests on little islands in fresh 

 water ponds or in rivers, and saw many others on the 

 shores or on islands in Franklin Bay. The number of 

 eggs in a nest was usually five. 



In its migration this species follows the Alaskan 

 coast, over the Bering Sea, passing outside of St. 

 Michael's Island, proceeding to Stewart's Island, and 

 thence northward across the open sea to Golofin Sound. 

 They are found in Norton Sound by the middle of May, 

 and breed in this neighborhood in great numbers. 



