ANSERIN.E — THE GEESE — BERNICLA. 



471 



to escape by doing this when it has been wounded, although it rarely succeeds in 

 accomplishing its purpose. While by many this bird is not consideied as being 

 desirable as food, Cliraud speaks of it as excellent, even tlie adult birds being tender 

 and juicy, and free from any tishy flavor. Its flesh has the most desirable taste in 

 the spring ; but at times it acquires a disagreeabh' sedgy flavor. 



Owing to its apparent unwillingness to give iip its wandering habits, this bird 

 cannot be fully domesticated. Giraud tried the experiment with young birds, but 

 without success. Even where the attempt has seemed partially successful, the Brant 

 could not be made to breed. 



Mr. Audubon did not meet with this species in Texas, and could not obtain any 

 evidence of its having ever been seen there ; but Mr. Dresser mentions it as common 

 on that coast during the winter. 



According to Yarrell, the Brant is a regular winter visitor to the shores of all the 

 maritime counties of England, remaining through all the cold months of the year. 

 It is a marine species, never seen in fresh water, passing the greater portion of the 

 time out at sea, frequenting extensive nuuldy flats, or such sand-bars as, are exposed 

 at every ebb-tide. It makes its ai)pearance at these feeding-places a short time before 

 the water leaves the ground exposed, and remains there, unless disturbed, until this 

 is again covered by the tide. In such situations the flocks of Brant are often of 

 extraordinary size. 



Colonel Hawker states that these birds are always wild, except in very severe 

 weather, and that their cautious instincts prompt them to leave their feeding-grounds 

 as soon as the tide flows high enough to bear an enemy. To kill Brant by day it is 

 necessary to get out of sight in a small punt at low water, and keep as near as pos- 

 sible to the edge of the sea. The cry of a flock as it approaches is said to resemble 

 that of a pack of hounds. When they come near to a boat, if the hunter springs up 

 suddenly, the Brant in their fright hover together and prt'sent a fine mark. Other 

 writers also si)eak of the resemblance of the notes of a flock of tliese birds to those 

 of a pack of hounds in full cry. On the British coast these birds feed chiefly on the 

 fronds of several alga;, especially Ulra, latissima. 



Yarrell states that the eggs brought home by the northern voyagers were of a 

 uniform grayish white, measuring 2.75 inches in length by 1.75 in breadth. The 

 birds kept in conflnement in St. James's Park and at the Zoological Gardens have 

 never manifested any disposition to mate. In conflnement they are exclusive and 

 reserved, never consort with other birds, but hiss when they are approached, as do 

 other geese; and their cries are described as resembling the syllables ruck-nick, 

 I'-r-t'onk, v-r-roiik. 



I 



% 

 •1' 







'<b 



Cil 





Bemicla nigricans. 



THE BLACK BBANT. 



Anser nigricans, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. IV. 1846, 171, plate. 



Bcrnida uiyricans, Ca.ss. lUustr. B. Cal. Tex. etc. 1853, 52, pi. 10. — Baird, B. N. Am. 1868, 767 ; 



Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 571. — Riuow. Noni. N. Am. B. 1882, no. 596. 

 Branta nigricans, Bannist. Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philnd. 1870, 131. 

 Branta bemicla, vnv. nigricans, Cuuk.s, Key, 1872, 284. 

 Branta bemicla, b. nigricans, Coues, B. N. \V. 1874, 557. 

 Bemicla brenta nigricans, CouEs, Clieek Li.st, 2(1 eil. 1882, no. 701. 



Hab. Arctic and Western North America ; rare or casual in the Atlantic States. 

 Sp. Chab. Adult (No. 12787, Simiahnioo, Washinj^ton Territory ; Dr. Kexnerly) : Head, 

 neck, anil jnguluni unifoi'ni deep black ; middle of tlie neck with a conspicuous collar of pure 



