WILD FOWL 
BLACK BRENT GOOSE 
BRANTA NIGRICANS 
Branta nigricans, Salvador!, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., xxvii, p. 123 (1895). 
Branta bernicla nigricans, Alph6raky, Geese of Europe, p. 162, pi. xviii (1905). 
DULT male. — Similar to the Brent goose, but with a con- 
spicuous white collar interrupted on the nape only, and 
/ formed by the white patches on the sides of the neck 
meeting together in front; abdomen almost as black as 
/ the breast. Iris dark brown; bill and feet black. Total 
vL. length about 27 inches; bill 1*3 inch; wing 13*5 
inches; tail 3*8 inches; tarsus 2*4 inches. 
Adult female , — Similar to the male, but rather smaller. Wing, 
13*0 inches. 
General distribution . — The breeding-range of the black Brent goose 
extends through the Arctic Zone of North Asia from the Lena to Bering 
Strait, and thence eastwards into the Arctic portion of North America. 
In the cold weather it migrates southwards along the east coast of Asia 
and the adjacent islands to Japan, and along the west coast of North 
America to Lower California. 
According to Prof. Menzbier this species occurs on migration with 
flocks of the common Brent in East Russia. 
In the British Isles it is said to have been obtained on several occasions, 
but whether these specimens were really referable to B. nigricans with 
a white collar surrounding the neck, or were merely unusually dark- 
bellied examples of the common Brent, seems at present uncertain. In 
any case its occurrence must be regarded as by no means proven. 
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