146 
BRANT. 
notion was, it had many advocates, and was at that time as gene- 
rally believed, and with about as much reason too, as the present 
opinion of the annual submersion of Swallows, so tenaciously in- 
sisted 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 Barnacle of Europe, that is, in having the upper 
parts lighter, and the front, cheeks, and chin whitish. These ap- 
pear evidently a variety of the Brant, probably 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-Harbor, 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 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 pass- 
ing 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 Ca- 
nada 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 
^ The ridiculous account of the origin of the Barnacle Goose, extracted from the Herbal 
of Gerard, we have thought proper to retain for the amusement of the reader ; but it is neces- 
sary to state, that the opinion of our author, with respect to the identity of the Brant and Bar- 
nacle, is erroneous, these birds forming two distinct species. 
