468 LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSEEES. 



rump. Breast, abdomen, sides, and flanks much like the upper parts, but the light tips to the 

 leathers whiter, broader, and more conspicuous ; anal region and crissum immaculate snow-white. 

 Wing, 12.30 inches; culmen, 1.20 ; tarsus, 2.05 ; middle toe, 1.70. Young (No. 1278G, Washing- 

 ton, D. C, December, 1858 ; C. Drexler) : Similar to the adult, but the wing-coverts and sec- 

 ondaries broadly tipped with pure white, Ibrming very conspicuous bars. Lower parts paler and 

 more unilbrm ; white on ndddle of the neck reduced to small specks. 



Two adult specimens from Europe differ from any in a series of four American skins (adults), 

 in larger size and slightly paler colors ; the ditferences are so slight, however, that they probably 

 would not prove constant, if more examples were compared. Indeed, a third European specimen, 

 labelled (by SchliIter) " hoher Norden," is nearly as dark everywhere as B. nigricans, and would 

 be instantly referred to that species, were it not for the white neck-patches, which are exactly 

 as in typical brcnta — that is, widely separated in I'ront, as well as behind. It may lie a hylu-id 

 between the two. 



The Common Brant Goose has an almost eosmopolitan distribution. In the summer 

 it retires to very high northern latitudes to breed, and in the autumn and winter 

 wanders over large portions of both the Old and the New World. It is found in all 

 the high Arctic regions of Asia and Europe, and in North America east of the Rocky 

 Mountains. In the western portions of Ainerica it is replaced by B. nigricans, a 

 closely allied form. It is almost unknown in the interior. A single example taken 

 on Lake Michigan, near Eacine, by Dr. Hoy, is the only exception, so far as I know. 



Hcarne was convinced that this bird must breed in the remote north, as it sel- 

 dom appeared at CUiurchill Eiver until September. Its route in the spring was 

 unknown, nor did any of the Hudson's Bay Indians know of its breeding-place. It 

 always came from the north in its visits to Churchill River, flew near the margin of 

 the coast, and was never seen in the interior. Its flesh, although delicate to the eye, 

 was not much esteemed as food. In some years birds of this species passed the 

 mouth of Churchill River in incredible numbers. In their movements south they 

 usually availed themselves of a strong northerly or northwesterly wind ; and this 

 made their flight so swift, that once, when Mr. Hearne killed four or five at a single 

 shot, they all fell from twenty to fifty yards beyond the place where they were hit. 

 When in large flocks they are known to fl}', in the manner of the 8now Goose, in the 

 form of a wedge, and to make a great noise. Their flight is irregular, sometimes 

 being forty or fifty yards above the water, and yet, an instant later, they may be seen 

 skimming close to its surface, then again they will rise to a considerable height; so 

 that Viy some they are said to "fly in festoons." 



According to Ri(diardson, this species breeds on the shores and among the islands 

 of the Arctic Sea, and keeps near the sea-coast in its migrations. It is rarely, if ever, 

 seen in the interior. As no mention is made among the records of the Smithsonian 

 Institution of this Goose being knovra. to breed on the coast of the Arctic Sea, 

 Richardson may have been mistaken in this supposition. He mentions its feeding 

 on mollusca, the Ulva lactuca, and other marine plants — chiefly upon the latter, 

 from winch its flesh acquires a strong flavor. It is said to leave its breeding-quarters 

 in September. 



Dr. Bessels includes this species among the bii-ils proctired on the " Polaris " Ex- 

 pedition (" Bulletin de la Socicte de Geographic." March, 1875) ; and ]Mr. Feilden 

 (" Ibis," October, 1877) also includes it among the birds procured in the British Arc- 

 tic Expedition of 1875-1876, and supplies the following interesting note : '-During 

 the first week of June, parties of these birds arrived in the vicinity of our winter- 

 quarters (lat. 82° 27' N.) ; for some days they continued flying up and down the 

 coast-line, evidently looking out for places bare of snow to feed on. They were very 



