184 GAME BIRDS, WILD-FOWL AND SHORE BIRDS. 



Range. — Northern hemisphere. Breeds on arctic islands north of lati- 

 tude 74 degrees and west to about longitude 100 degrees, and on the 

 whole west coast of Greenland; winters on the Atlantic Coast from 

 Massachusetts south to North Carolina; rarely to Florida; has been 

 recorded in the interior from Manitoba, Ontario, Colorado, Nebraska, 

 Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Louisiana; accidental in British 

 Columbia and Barbados. 



History. 



The Brant was formerly one of the most abundant of all 

 the sea-fowl. The early historians mention it among the 

 Geese which swarmed on the coast of Massachusetts when 

 the colony was first settled. It found rest and shelter in 

 every bay, harbor and estuary along our coast, where its 

 principal food, the eelgrass {Zostera marina), grows upon the 

 flats. The following notes from many authors will give some 

 idea of its former status: Rare in New Hampshire, but 

 in the Bay of Massachusetts found in great abundance 

 (Belknap, 1793). Early in October they are seen to arrive 

 about Ipswich, Cape Ann and Cape Cod in great numbers, 

 continuing to come until November, and in hazy weather 

 "they fly and diverge into bays and inlets" (Nuttall, Massa- 

 chusetts, 1834). Early in October they arrive in large num- 

 bers; flocks continue to follow each other in long succession, 

 and the gunners secure considerable numbers (Peabody, 

 Massachusetts, 1838). Appears in great numbers on the 

 coast of New York the first or second week in October; con- 

 tinues passing through until December (De Kay, 1844). In 

 spring and autumn very numerous on our coasts, exceeding 

 in number the Canada Geese and dusky Ducks (Giraud, Long 

 Island, N. Y., 1844). Abundant (Turnbull, Eastern Penn- 

 sylvania and New Jersey, 1869). Found on coast abun- 

 dantly (Samuels, New England, 1870). Common spring and 

 autumn on coast (Maynard, Massachusetts, 1870). Not un- 

 common spring and autumn (J. A. Allen, 1879). "In former 

 years were quite abundant at Montauk and in Gardiner's 

 Bay on the west shore of Long Island, N. Y., and now they 

 are much more scarce" (Leffingwell, 1890). Formerly very 

 abundant along our eastern coast; have seen many large 

 flocks in the bays of Long Island, but the persistent shooting 



