365 
BERNICULA BRENTA (Barrp). 
THE BRANT GOOSE. 
Specific Charcter.—Head, neck, jugulum, continuous black, the anterior por- 
‘tion of the head having a brownisb cast ; posterior outline of the back on the jugu- 
tum very regular, and sharply defined against the brownish gray of the breast. Mid- 
dle of the neck with a transverse crescentic patch of white on each side formed of 
white tips and subtips of the feathers, the black shining through in places so as 
to form oblique lines. Above smoky plumbeous, the feathers distinctly bordered 
terminally with a much paler and more brownish shade. Wings like the back but 
‘with a somewhat plumbeous cast, the paler margins nearly obsolete. Secondaries 
blackish brown; primaries brownish black. Tail uniform black, but almost 
-concealed by the snow white lengthened coverts the upper of which, however, are 
invaded by a medial stripe of blackish plumbeous brown from the rump. Breast, 
-abdomen, sides and flanks, much like the upper parts, but the light tips to the 
feathers whiter, broader, and more conspicuous; anal region and crissum immacu- — 
late snow white. | 
Total length, 24.00 inches ; wing, 12.30; culmen, 1.20; tarsus, 2.05; middle toe, 
1.70. 
Eastern North America generally, but chiefly the Atlantic coast; rare away 
from salt water, Is a migrant in the spring to the Arctic regions to breed. It is 
rare in Ontario being only found here as a straggler. 
