THE BRANT. 289 



opinion of the annual submersion of swallows, so tenaciously 

 insisted on by some of our philosophers, and which, like the 

 former absurdity, will in its turn disappear before the penetra- 

 ting radiance and calm investigation of truth. 



The Brant and Barnacle Goose, though generally reckoned 

 two different species, I consider to be the same.* Among those 

 large flocks that arrive on our coasts about the beginning of 

 October, individuals frequently occur corresponding in their 

 markings with that called the Bernacle of Europe, that is, in 

 having the upper parts lighter, and the front, cheeks, and chin 

 whitish. These appear evidently a variety of the Brant, proba- 

 bly young birds; what strengthens this last opinion is the fact 

 that none of them are found so marked on their return north- 

 ward in the spring. 



The Brant is expected at Egg Harbour on the coast of New 

 Jersey about the first of October, and has been sometimes seen 

 as early as the twentieth of September. The first flocks gener- 

 ally remain in the bay a few days, and then pass on to the 

 south. On recommencing their journey, they collect in one large 

 body, and making an extensive spiral course, some miles in di- 

 ameter, rise to a great height in the air, and then steer for the 

 sea, over which they uniformly travel; often making wide cir- 

 cuits to avoid passing over a projecting point of land. In these 

 aerial routes they have been met with many leagues from shore, 

 travelling the whole night. Their line of march very much re- 

 sembles that of the Canada Goose, with this exception, that 

 frequently three or four are crowded together in the front, as if 

 striving for precedency. Flocks continue to arrive from the 

 north, and many remain in the bay till December, or until the 

 weather becomes very severe, when these also move off* south- 



* The ridiculous account of the origin of the Barnacle Goose, extracted 

 from the Herbal of Gerard is retained for the amusement of the reader; but 

 it is necessary to state, that the opinion of our author, with respect to the 

 identity of the Brant and Barnacle is erroneous, these birds forming dis- 

 tinct species. 

 VOL. III. P 



