12 TowNSEND AND Bent, Birds of Labrador. [jaii^ 



these birds appeared to be in pairs. An albino of tliis species, taken at 

 Piashte-bai, was shown us by Monsieur Beetz. 



29. Branta canadensis. Canada Goose; "Outard" (Fr.); "Nisk" 

 (Ind.). — We are glad to be able to correct the statement made in the 

 'Birds of Labrador' that tliis species "is now found breeding in the 

 interior only or in the remote north and west " for we found a nest of the 

 Canada Goose on a small hummock in the middle of a tiny lake in a bog 

 two or three miles from the coast at Esquimaux Point on June 11. We 

 also saw single birds and pairs in the bogs and flying back and forth from 

 the coast at several points between Esquimaux Point and Natashquan, and 

 we were told by M. Cyr of the former place that when inspecting the tele- 

 graph line that runs along the coast, he occasionally caught young geese, 

 and he stated that he once found a nest in the latter part of May between 

 Watcheeshoo and Pashasheeboo. M. Beetz confirmed these observations. 



On May 27 we saw a flock of 28 Canada Geese, apparently migrants, 

 feeding among the Isles des Corneilles, and on June 5, 17 flew north over 

 the land back of Esquimaux Point. 



30. Branta bernicla glaucogaster. Brant; "Bernache" (Fr.); "Apes- 

 tis" (Ind.). — We were told by Dr. Ross, the factor of the Hudson's Bay 

 Company's Post at Seven Islands, and the statement was confirmed by 

 several others, that the Brant came in thousands from the south the last 

 of May, flying in between the islands and bedding in the inner bay. Between 

 this date and the 15th or 20th of June they are constantly rising up and 

 flying over the land in the direction of Hudson Bay. Mr. Charles Maloney 

 of Mingan told us that a few were seen there in the spring flying west to- 

 wards Seven Islands. Mr. Saltzman said he never saw any Brant at 

 Betchewun. At Seven Islands the Brant are shot by the Indians and 

 others as they fly by points, and are stalked in canoes concealed by blinds 

 of grass or evergreen branches. 



We saw none of these birds when we crossed the Bay of Seven Islands 

 on May 23, and but one on our return on June 22, but we were told that a 

 large migration took place in our absence. 



This migration was described by Hind ' who observed Brant flying north 

 over the land at the mouth of the Moisie River on June 10, 1861. He 

 says: "From information derived on the spot, I learned that this bird is 

 not seen much further eastward than Mingan, on the north shore of the gulf. 

 They are found on all parts of the coast between Mingan and the Saguenay, 

 where they arrive about April ^ 20, and remain ten or twelve days. They 

 go inland and breed on the upper lakes, ^ or cross over to Hudson's Bay. 

 They come from the interior, with the other species of geese, about Sep- 

 tember 15, remain about a month, then strike direct to the south shore of 

 the St. Lawrence, or to the island of Anticosti, where they congregate in 

 large numbers, before their winter flight towards the South." 



1 Henry Youle Hind, London, 1863, Vol. I, p. 17. 



2 This must be a mistake for May. 



3 It is now known that they breed north of Lat. 83°. 



