50 Birds of Massachusetts 



118. Branta leucopsis (Bechst.). Barnacle Goose. 

 Accidental from the Old World. Although Audubon and 



Brewer refer to the occurrence of this bird in the State, the only- 

 definite record is : North Chatham^ one shot on November i, 1895, 

 and mounted by Mr. N. Vickary of Lynn.^ 



119. Branta bernicla (Linn.). Brant. 



A rather uncommon spring and autumn migrant, occasionally 

 wintering. 



March 12 to May 10 (June 2); September 23 to Decem- 

 ber 12. (Winter). 



Cohasset : " Rather rare in fall." Essex County : " October, not abun- 

 dant." Ipswich : One instance. Nantucket : " Common." Springfield : 

 "Not common." Templeton : " Rare migrant." 



120. Branta nigricans (Lawr.). Black Brant. 

 Accidental from the west. Although referred to by Brewer on 



Henshaw's authority, there is but one definite record : Chathavif 

 one taken in the spring of 1883.'' 



121. Anas boscas Linn. Mallard Duck. 



An uncommon migrant and accidental winter resident, rare liorth 

 of Cape Cod. Its alleged breeding at Somerset and elsewhere 

 requires confirmation. 



April 12 ; October 11 to December 17 (January 3). 



Berkshire: " Rare transient visitant." Bristol County : "Uncommon 

 transient visitor, mostly to inland ponds. It may winter." Cambridge : 

 [Occasional in fall on Fresh Pond.] Cohasset: "Occasional in fall."^ 

 Essex County: "Fall and Winter Rare." Ipswich: One instance. 

 November. Nantucket : " Not unusual." Springfield : " Rather com- 

 mon autumn visitor." Rare in spring. Wellesley : " Rather rare mi- 

 grant." 

 i 



122. Anas obscura Gmel. Black Duck. 



It has long been known in a general way that two kinds of 

 Black Duck occur on our coast. So far, on account of the diffi. 

 culty of procuring breeding specimens, no separation has been 

 feasible. Of these two kinds the adults apparently are separable 



IQ. & 0., Vol. XI, No. I, Jan., 1886, p. 16. 

 = Cory ; Auk, Vol. I, No. i, Jan., 1884, p. 96. 



