270 FEATHERED GAME 



rule, somewhat later and returning ahead 

 of the first named. Not that the two do not 

 travel together, but the later arrivals in the 

 spring and the first comers in the fall are said 

 to average a larger percentage of "short- 

 necked geese." This spring I have had four 

 of these so-called "' short-necked geese, " of 

 which one was doubtful and three undoubtedly 

 of the present sub-species. If this average will 

 hold it will show Hutchins' Goose to be far 

 from uncommon here. 



THE COMMON BRANT. 



(Branta bernicla glaucogastra.) 



These birds breed all through the northern 

 part of the continent and the islands north of 

 it, as well as all along the west coast of Green- 

 land, and are reasonably abundant on our 

 coasts during the migrations. Perhaps we 

 should say unreasonably abundant considering 

 the numbers annually slaughtered from sink 

 boxes and over decoys a little farther south of 

 us, and mostly in the spring flights at that. 



The Brant is mainly maritime, though occa- 

 sionally found in the larger inland waters, and 



