THE BRANT. 
289 
opinion of the annual submersion of swallows, so tenaciously 
insisted on by some of our philosophers, and which, like the 
former absurdity, will in its turn disappear before the penetra- 
ting radiance and calm investigation of truth. 
The Brant and Barnacle Goose, though generally reckoned 
two different species, I consider to be the same. * Among those 
large flocks that arrive on our coasts about the beginning of 
October, individuals frequently occur corresponding in their 
markings with that called the Barnacle 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, proba- 
bly young birds; what strengthens this last opinion is the fact 
that none of them are found so marked on their return north- 
ward 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 gener- 
ally 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 di- 
ameter, rise to a great height in the air, and then steer for the 
sea, over which they uniformly travel; often making wide cir- 
cuits to avoid passing 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 re- 
sembles that of the Canada 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 south- 
* The ridiculous account of the origin of the Barnacle Goose, extracted 
from the Herbal of Gerard is retained for the amusement of the reader; but 
it is necessary to state, that the opinion of our author, with respect to the 
identity of the Brant and Barnacle is erroneous, these birds forming dis- 
tinct species. 
VOL. III. P p 
