486 ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 



The Brant is found on our coast pretty abundantly at 

 the same seasons as the Canada Goose, which it resem- 

 bles very much in its general habits. 



Having had but few opportunities of observing this 

 species in its wild state, I give the description, by Wilson, of 

 its general habits : " The Brant is expected at Egg Harbor, 

 on the coast of New Jersey, about the first of October, 

 and has been sometimes seen as early as the 20th of Sep- 

 tember. The first flocks generally remain in the bay a few 

 days, arid 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 diameter, rise to a 

 great height in the air, and then steer for the sea, over 

 which they uniformly travel, often making wide circuits 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 resembles that of the Canada Goose, with this excep- 

 tion, 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 southwardly. During their stay, they 

 feed on the bars at low water, seldom or never in the 

 marshes ; their principal food being a remarkably long and 

 broad-leaved marine plant, of a bright-green color, which 

 adheres to stones, and is called by the country people, sea- 

 cabbage : the leaves of this are sometimes eight or ten 

 inches broad, by two or three feet in length. They also eat 

 small shell-fish. They never dive, but wade about, feeding 

 at low water. During the time of high water, they float in 

 the bay in long lines, particularly in calm weather. Their 

 voice is hoarse and honking, and, when some hundreds are 

 screaming together, reminds one of a pack of hounds in 

 full cry. They often quarrel among themselves, and witli 

 the Ducks, driving the latter off their feeding-ground. 



