THE BRANT. 
165 
come to ripeness, living things that were very naked, in shape 
like a birde ; in others, the birds covered with soft downe, the 
shell half open, and the birde readie to fall out, which no doubt 
were the foules called Barnakles.” * Ridiculous and chimerical 
as this notion was, it had many advocates, and was at that time 
as generally believed, and with about as much reason too, as 
the present 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 
penetrating 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 bernacle 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, pro- 
bably young birds : what strengthens this last opinion is the 
fact, that none of them are found so marked on their return 
northward in the spring. 
The brant is expected at Egg Harbour, on the coast of New 
Jersey, about the 1st of October, and has been sometimes seen 
as early as the 20th of September. The first flocks generally 
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 
diameter, rise to a great height in the air, and then steer for 
the sea, over which they uniformly travel ; often making wide 
circuits 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 resembles that of the Canada goose, with this ex- 
ception, that frequently three or four are crowded together in 
the front, as if striving for precedency. Flocks continue to 
* See Gerard’s Herbal, Art. Goose-bearing Tree. 
