BEANT 287 



Beant. Branta hernicla 



26.00 



Ad. — Head, neck, and upper breast black ; streaks of white on 

 the sides of thd neck; back and wings brown; belly whitish; tail 

 black, base white. 



The Brant is a migrant along the coast in March and 

 April, and in October and November. It keeps well out 

 along the shore, and is found in numbers only at certain 

 points, such as Monomoy on Cape Cod, and on Nantucket 

 and Martha's Vineyard. Here the Brant sometimes occur 

 in great flocks, which rest in long lines on the sand-bars, 

 or feed at the edge of the flats, tearing up eel-grass by the 

 roots. They may be known from the Canada Goose by the 

 smaller size, by the absence of white on the throat, and by 

 the black breast. 



Canada Goose. Branta canadensis 

 35.00-43.00 



Ad. — Head and neck black; broad bib of white from sides of 

 head across throat ; back and wings brown ; under parts whitish ; 

 tail black, base white. 



The Wild Goose is more often heard than seen, except- 

 ing perhaps on the sea-shore. The honking of migrant 

 flocks was once a common sound in March and April, and 

 again from the first of October to the end of December. At 

 favorable points along the coast, and in certain inland ponds, 

 flocks often alight to rest. They then ride on the water, 

 or stand on exposed bars, or feed by pulling up vegetation 

 in the shallow water. When seen at close range, they are 

 easily identified by the black head and neck, and the bib of 

 white across the throat ; when flying, they usually form a 

 wedge-shaped flock, two lines converging at a leader. The 

 wing-strokes are then rather slow, compared with those 

 of a duck. 



