132 



THE BRANT. 



opinion of the annual submei^sion of swallows^ so tenaciously in- 

 sisted on by some of our philosophers, and which, like the former 

 absurdity, will in its turn disappear before the penetrating radiance 

 and calm investigation of truth. 



The Brant and Barnacle Goose, tho generally reckoned two 

 different species, I consider to be the same. Among those large 

 flocks that arri V e on our coasts about the beginning of October, 

 individuals frequently occur corresponding in their markings with 

 that called the Bernacle of Europe, that is, in having the upper 

 parts lighter, and the front, cheeks, and chin whitish. These 

 appear evidently a variety of the Brant, probably young birds ; 

 what strengthens this last opinion is the fact that none of them 

 are found so marked on their return northward in the spring. 



The Brant is expected at Egg Harbour on the coast of New 

 Jersey about the first of October, and has been sometimes seen as 

 early as the twentieth 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 spiral 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 pass- 

 ing over a projecting point of land. In these aerial routes they 

 have been met with many leagues from shore, travelling the whole 

 night. Their line of march very much resembles that of the Ca- 

 nada Goose, with this exception, that frequently three or four are 

 crowded together in the front, as if striving for precedency. 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 princi- 

 pal 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 people sea cabbage ; the leaves of this are sometimes 



