622 THE BR. NT. 
the fact that none ot them are found sc marked on their return north- 
ward in the spring. 
The Brant is expected at Ege Harbor, on the coast of New Jersey, 
about the first of October, and has been sometimes seen as early as 
the 20th of September. The first flocks generally remain in the bay 
a few days, and then pass on to the south. On recommencing their 
journey, they collect in one large body, and, making an extensive spi- 
ral course, some miles in diameter, rise to a great height in the air, 
and then steer for the sea, over which they uniformly travel; often 
making wide circuits to avoid passing over a projecting point of land. 
In these aérial routes, they have been met with many leagues from 
shore, travelling the whole night. Their line of march very much re- 
sembles that of the Canada Goose, with this exception, that frequently 
three or four are crowded together in the front, as if striving for prece- 
dency. Flocks continue to arrive from the north, and many remain in 
the bay till December, or until the weather becomes very severe, when 
these also move off southwardly. During their stay, they feed on the 
bars at low water, seldom or never in the marshes ; their principal food 
being a remarkably long and broad-leaved marine plant, of a bright 
green color, which adheres to stones, and is called by the country peo- 
ple sea cabbage ; the leaves of this are sometimes eight or ten inches 
broad, by two or three fect in length: they also eat small shell fish. 
They never dive, but wade about, feeding at low water. During the 
time of high water, they float in the bay in long lines, particularly in 
calm weather. Their voice is hoarse and honking, and, when some 
hundreds are screaming together, reminds one of a pack of hounds in 
full cry. They often quarrel among themselves, and with the Ducks, 
driving the latter off their feeding ground. Though it never dives in 
search of food, yet, when wing-broken, the Brant will go one hundred 
yards at a stretch under water; and is considered, in such circum- 
stances, one of the most difficult birds to kill. About the 15th or 20th 
of May, they reappear on their way north; but seldom stop long, un- 
less driven in by tempestuous weather. 
The breeding place of the Brant is supposed to be very far to the 
north. They are common at Hudson’s Bay, very numerous in winter 
on the coasts of Holland and Ireland; are called in Shetland Harra 
Geese, from their frequenting the sand of that name; they also visit 
the coast of England. Buffon relates that, in the severe winters of 
1740 and 1765, during the prevalence of a strong north wind, the Brant 
visited the coast of Picardy, in France, in prodigious multitudes, and 
committed great depredations on the corn, tearing it up by the roots, 
trampling, and devouring it; and, notwithstanding the exertions of the 
inhabitants, who were constantly employed in destroying them, they 
continued in great force until a change of weather carried them off. 
The Brant generally weighs about four pounds avoirdupois, an.! 
measures two feet in length, and three feet six inches in extent; the 
bill is about an inch anda half lone, and black; the nostril large. 
placed nearly in its middle; head, neck, and breast, black, the neck 
marked with a spot of white, about two inches below the eye; belly. 
pale ash, edged with white: from the thighs backwards, white ; back 
and wing-coverts, dusky brownish black, the plumage lightest at the 
tips ; ruinp, and middle of the tail-coverts, black; the rest of the tail- 
