30 
THE BIRDS OF WISCONSIN. 
dark unclerparts, slender necks and a distinct collar of white 
on lower neck. The white cheek patches appear to be 
indifferently separated by black on throat, or unbroken, 
among geese of all sizes, shape and coloration. We have 
examined carefully many dozens of fresh specimens killed 
at all times from early fall until late spring, and frankly 
admit our inability to satisfactorily unravel the "goose ques- 
tion" in Wisconsin. It is very likely that we have in winter 
these three varieties, and possibly four, with, as stated, every 
varying degree among the many intermediates. 
Branta bernicla glaucogastra (Brehm.). WHITE-BELLIED 
BRANT. 
The brant has been listed as a bird of Wisconsin for a 
great many years, but when all records are sifted, we have 
left as authentic only the one of Dr. Hoy — a single specimen 
taken at Racine many years ago. This was one of three from 
the shore of Lake Michigan. For the past thirty years we 
have run down "brant" records innumerable — to find that 
in every case it proved to be something else, varying from the 
common Canada goose to a female eider duck! So persistently 
have we followed this up that we have come to the reasonable 
conclusion that this sole authentic record is merely accidental. 
We shall have no faith in any Wisconsin brant record 
unless accompanied by the brant itself. All of the smaller 
geese are universally called "brant," which makes it impos- 
sible to even consider a record except with suspicion. In the 
"Report of l>ird Migration in the Mississippi Valley, 1884 
and '85," by W. W. Cooke, we find statements that would 
indicate that this species, at least in 1883-4, was noted in 
Illinois, and that in Minnesota it became almost common. 
Prof. Cooke himself seems to question these records ; and if 
they were obtained from no more reliable sources than some 
of the Wisconsin records were, they are absolutely worthless 
as proving the occurrence of the brant in the Mississippi 
Valley. Barry's list of 1854 says, "abundant in all parts of 
the State, and large numbers breed here." This is, of course, 
utterly false. Unfortunately the Hoy collection, now in the 
possession of Mrs. Wm. Henry Miller, of Racine, is left 
entirely without labels, and the records, or catalogues, have 
been lost or destroyed. The single brant preserved there is, 
without question, the specimen taken at Racine and is a 
perfectly typical glaucogastra. 
