148 
BRANT. 
tent ; the bill is about an inch and a half long, and black ; the 
nostril large, placed nearly in its middle ; head, neck, and breast, 
black, the neck marked with a spot of white, about two inches 
below the eye ; belly pale ash edged with white ; from the thighs 
backwards white ; back and wing-coverts dusky brownish black, 
the plumage lightest at the tips ; rump and middle of the tail-co- 
verts black, the rest of the tail-coverts pure white, reaching nearly 
to the tip of the tail, the whole of which is black, but usually con- 
cealed by the white coverts ; primaries and secondaries deep black ; 
legs also black ; irides dark hazel. 
The only material diiference observable between the plumage 
of the male and female, is, that in the latter the white spot on the 
neck is less, and more mottled with dusky. In young birds it is 
sometimes wanting, or occurs on the front, cheeks and chin ; and 
sometimes the upper part of the neck, only, is black but in full 
plumaged birds, of both sexes, the markings are very much alike. 
This species is often seen in our markets for sale. Its flesh, 
though esteemed by many, tastes somewhat sedgy, or fishy. On 
the 28th of May, of the present year, the Editor saw several pairs 
of Brant, which had been brought from Little Egg-Harbor. They 
were uncommonly fat. One pair, although deprived of their fea- 
thers, weighed eight pounds and a half. 
The individual figured in the plate was shot by the Editor at 
Great Egg-Harbor, on the nineteenth of May, 1813. It had been 
compelled to land by a storm, which surprised it while travelling 
to the north. The procuring of this bird was a fortunate occur- 
rence for Mr. Wilson, he having omitted to make a drawing while 
specimens were to be obtained during their sojourn on our coast. 
The following day the author and his friend returned home from 
their last shooting expedition to the seashore ; and, on the twenty- 
third of August, the ingenious and excellent Wilson bade adieu to 
this world for ever. 
^ The figure of this bird given by Bewick is in that state. 
