WHITE-BELLIED BKANT. , '.' 
Branta bernicla glaucogastra (I.nlmi . White-bellied brant. 
Breeding range, — There is a lack of knowledge as to the dividing 
line between this form and the black bran! (2?, nigricans). It is 
known that the latter breeds on the Arctic coast of America east about 
to Longitude L25 ( Franklin Bay), and that the species reaches its sum- 
mer home by migration from the west and southwest, and not from 
the BOUth by way of the Mackenzie Valley. It is known that the 
eastern brant occurs in migration on Melville Peninsula and passes 
alone- the east coast of Boothia Peninsula, Longitude 92 . There 
seems to be no record of brant on the Arctic coast of the mainland 
between Franklin Bay and Boothia Peninsula -nearly a thousand 
miles— and yet brant of some form are common on all the islands that 
Lie between these two longitudes north of 74 latitude. It i- prac- 
tically certain that tin 1 brant swarming in Wellington Channel, directly 
north of Boothia Peninsula, are the eastern form. Brant were seen on 
September 7, 1850, at the south end of Banks Land, and as they were 
then in full tide of fall migration they were undoubtedly on their way 
to the Arctic coast of the mainland and belonged to the western form. 
A year later, August 19, 1851, "vast numbers" were seen in the 
northwestern part of the same island as the\ T were gathering for their 
migration. These also, then, were probably the western form, and 
they bred commonly along the northern shore of this island. Melville 
Island is only 50 miles from Banks Land, and hence it is probable that 
the "brent geese" taken by Parry on this latter island were the black 
brant. The dates of migration are of no help in settling this question. 
Brant arrived on Melville Island June 6, 1820, before June 9, 1853, 
and were seen on the north coast of Banks Land soon after June 1, 
L852, or at about the same date they arrived in 1882-3, at Point Bar- 
row, considerably farther south. They were noted in the vicinity of 
Wellington Channel, about latitude 75 , June 3, 1851, June 2, L853, 
and about June 9, L854. Almost directly south the tirst were not 
noted on Boothia Peninsula, latitude 70°, until June 12, 1830; June 
20, L831; and June 8, 1859; and -till farther south on Melville Pen- 
insula not until June 14. liS±>, and June 14. L823. While on the 
west coast of Greenland, at latitude 72°, the first were seen May 29, 
L850, and at the extreme northern limit of the range, above latitude 
82°, near the northwestern part of Greenland, they arrived dune :♦. 
L876; June 3, 1882; dune :>. 1883. 
The eastern brant breeds on the west coast of Greenland from 
Frederikshaab, latitude 62°, northward probably as far as land extends, 
certainly as far north as the north shore of ( irinnell Land, latitude 82 
33'. It probably breeds also on the islands north of latitude 74 and 
west to Wellington Channel. Breeding records south of this district 
4510— No. 26—06 o 
