ANSERINE — THE GEESE — BERNICLA. 
467 
breeds. It was rare at Nulato, or farther inland, on the Yukon. Its eggs were taken 
by him at Pastolik. 
According to the observations of Mr. Elliott, it is of occasional occurrence on the 
Prybilof Islands, where from time to time it straggles in small squads of from ten to 
thirty, evidently driven by the high winds from their customary line of emigration 
along the mainland. Although not breeding there, this bird spends occasionally 
weeks at a time on the lakelets and uplands before taking flight. 
Several specimens were taken on the Yukon Eiver by Mr. Kennicott, in May, 
1861; at Fort Yukon by Mr. S. Jones; on St. Michael’s Island by Mr. Bannister; 
and at Fort Kenai by Mr. Bischoff. 
Mr. L. Belding (in epist.) considers the B. leucopareia “ a strongly-marked species,” 
and says that it is abundant in winter in California, where it is known to hunters as 
the “ Cackler,” or “ Cackling Goose,” on account of its peculiar cry. His first fall 
record of its occurrence at Stockton is October 12, and the latest spring record, 
April 25. 
Bernicla brenta. 
THE BRANT GOOSE. 
Anas bernicla, Linn. S. N. I. 1766, 198. — Wils. Am. Orn. VIII. 1814, pi. 72, fig. 1. 
Branta bernicla, Bannist. Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad. 1870, 131 (nec Scopoli). — Coues, Key, 1872, 
284 ; Check List, 1873, no. 484 ; B. N. W. 1874, 556. 
Anscr bernicla, Illig. Prodr. 1811, 277. — Sw. & Rich. F. B. A. II. 1831, 469. — Nutt. Man. II. 
1834, 359. — Aud. Orn. Biog. V. 1839, 24, 610, pi. 391 ; Synop. 1839, 272 ; B. Am. VI. 1843, 
203, pi. 379. 
Anscr brenta, Pall. Zoog. R.-A. II. 1826, 223. 
Bernicla brenta, Stephens, Gen. Zool. XII. pt. ii. 1824, 46. — Baird, B. N. Am. 1858, 767 ; Cat. 
N. Am. B. 1859, no. 570. — Ridgw. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 595. — Coues, Check List, 2d 
ed. 1882, no. 700. 
Anser torquata, Frisch, Vog. Deutschl. II. pi. 156. 
Bernicla melanopsis, Macgill. Man. Orn. II. 1842, 151. 
Hab. Eastern North America in general, 
but chiefly the Atlantic coast ; rare in the in- 
terior, or away from salt water ; Palsearctic 
Region. 
Sp. Char. Adult (No. 63616, New York 
market, J. H. Batty) : Head, neck, and jugulum 
continuous black, the anterior portion of the 
head having a brownish cast ; posterior outline 
of the black on the jugulum very regular and 
sharply-defined against the brownish gray of the 
breast. Middle of the neck with a transverse 
crescentic patch of white on each side, formed 
of white tips and sub-tips of the feathers, the 
black showing through in places so as to form 
oblique lines. Above, smoky-plumbeous, the 
feathers distinctly bordered terminally with a 
much paler and more brownish shade. Wings 
like the back, but with a somewhat plumbeous 
cast, the paler margins nearly obsolete. Sec- 
ondaries blackish brown ; primaries brownish 
black. Tail uniform black, but almost concealed by the snow-white lengthened coverts, the 
upper of which, however, are invaded by a medial stripe of blackish plumbeous-brown from the 
