BRENT GOOSE. 205 



sooner found itself loose than it began to exult most loudly in its liberty, 

 and my mother, who was awakened by the singular and unusual noise, rose 

 and lifted the blind, just as it took wing for the water, where doubtless it 

 soon rejoined its former companions. The time it was in our possession 

 was too short to admit of many observations being made on its habits. We 

 remarked, however, that it was by no means deficient in courage. When 

 approached, it would lower its head, writhe its glossy serpent-like neck, and, 

 with open mouth, protruded tongue, and eyes flashing with rage, prepare to 

 defend itself, emitting at the same time a strong hissing sound. This was 

 the only noise which it made while in our possession, and until the morning 

 of its departure it was never heard to use the hoarse call of the species." 



Brant, Anas Bernicla, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. viii. p. 131. 



Anser Bernicla, Bonap. Syn., p. 378. 



Anser Bernicla, Brent Goose, Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. Amer., vol. ii. p. 469. 



Brant or Brent Goose, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 358. 



Brent Goose, Anser Bernicla, Aud. Orn. Biog-., vol. v. pp. 24, 610. 



Male, 241 4s. Female, 23, 44^ 



Abundant along the coast of the Atlantic, from Maine to Maryland, 

 during winter. Never seen far inland. Breeds from Labrador northward. 

 Columbia river. 



Adult Male. 



Bill much shorter than the head, higher than broad at the base, somewhat 

 conical, slightly depressed toward the end, narrowed and rounded at the tip. 

 Upper mandible with the dorsal line sloping, the ridge a little flattened at 

 the base, convex toward the end, the sides sloping, the edges soft, the oblique 

 marginal lamellae short, transverse, about 25 on each side, the unguis round, 

 convex, striato-denticulate on the inner edge. Nasal groove elliptical, 

 commencing at the base, and extending to beyond the middle of the bill; 

 nostrils lateral, medial, longitudinal, narrow-elliptical, open, pervious. Lower 

 mandible straight, depressed, with the angle very long, rather wide, some- 

 what rounded, the sides sloping outwards, the edges soft, with about forty 

 lamella?. 



Head small, oblong, compressed. Neck rather long and slender. Body 

 full, slightly depressed. Feet short, stout, placed a little behind the centre 

 of the body; legs bare a little above the tibio-tarsal joint. Tarsus short, 

 compressed, covered all round with angular reticulated scales, which are 

 smaller behind. Hind toe extremely small, with a very narrow membrane; 

 third toe longest, fourth a little shorter, but longer than the second; all the 

 toes reticulated above at the base, but with narrow transverse scutella 

 towards the end; the three anterior connected by a reticulated membrane; 



