The Brant 



as to be an object of great interest. It is to be hoped that the rigid laws 

 of the past few years, reducing the bag-limit and preventing sale, will 

 do much to conserve the remnant of the millions of geese which formerly 

 spent the winter season in our State. 



Harold C. Bryant 



No. 376 



Brant 



A. 0. U. No. 173. Branta bernicla bernicla (Linnaeus). 



Description. — Similar to B. b. nigricans, but lighter in coloration; breast light 

 ashy gray in abrupt contrast with black of jugulum, fading on lower belly into white 

 of crissum, shading on sides to darker; patch of white streaks on sides of upper neck 

 reduced, and not meeting fellow in front. Size of B. b. nigricans. 



Nesting. — Nest and Eggs: Like those of next species. 



Range of Branta bernicla. — Arctic coasts and islands of the Northern Hemi- 

 sphere; in winter south to the shores of northern Europe, or rarely, the Mediterranean; 

 Japan, Lower California, and North Carolina. 



Range of B. b. bernicla. — Breeds in the highest Arctic regions of the Old World, 

 in Greenland and the islands of the American Arctic, west to about Longitude 100°. 

 In America, winters south regularly along the Atlantic Coast from Massachusetts to 

 North Carolina, rarely to Florida, and occasionally at various interior points south to 

 Louisiana. Casual in British Columbia and California. 



Occurrence in California. — Casual, one positive record, of a bird killed on 

 Areata Bay, Humboldt County, Jan. 30, 1914 (Bryant). 



Authorities. — H. C. Bryant {Branta bernicla glaucogastra), Condor, vol. xvi., 

 1914, p. 183 (Areata Bay, Humboldt Co., Jan. 30, 1914, one spec). 



No. 376a Black Brant 



A. O. U. No. 174. Branta bernicla nigricans (Lawrence). 



Description. — Adult: Head and neck all around, and chest, glossy black, 

 shading into sooty brown on back and wings, into sooty black or deep slate on under- 

 pays; remiges and tail black; an incomplete white collar on upper neck, broadest on 

 sides, interrupted behind, and occasionally in front; upper tail-coverts and crissum 

 white in strong contrast to surrounding parts. Bill and feet black; iris brown. Imma- 

 ture: Like adult but white collar indistinct or want ng; greater coverts and secondaries 

 broadly tipped with white; sides and flanks brownish gray. Length of adult 558.8- 

 736.6 (22.00-29.00); wing 323.9-342.9 (12.75-13.50); bill 32.5 (1.28); tarsus 60.9 (2.40). 



Recognition Marks. — Standard of Brant size; black coloration with strong'y 

 contrasting wh te of upper tail-coverts (and crissum) distinctive. 



Nesting. — Does not breed in California. Nest: A depression in ground, 

 heavily lined with down. Eggs: 4 to 6; pale creamy white or ivory-yellow. Av. 

 size 71.5 x 47 (2.82 x 1.85). Season: June-July; one brood. 



1869 



