Duoks of Oohasset, Maes., 1860-92 
viHiS. Boston, Mass. 
25 . Brant ( 173 ). Common, but hard to 
secure except during heavy storms. 
0«&0*Vol,17» June,1892 p .91 
General Notes. 
Branta bernicla.—Dec t? t&dt wi -i . , 
; ‘s-ti "■" z ::j 
H—sk? tt -h 
here in ordinary seasons. = lsland ' A few 
Auk y , July, 1892. p. 305. 
General Notea 
Branta bernicla at Nantucket, Massachusetts.—I am informed by Mr. 
Charles E. Snow that on Nov. 22, 1892, while shooting at the extreme 
western end of Nantucket, he saw large numbers of Brant {Branta berni¬ 
cla') flying towards the southwest. They passed mostly through the 
‘opening’ between the islands of Nantucket and Tuckernuck. Some of 
the flocks contained from one to two hundred birds. He also noted 
several hundred American Eider Ducks ( Somateria dresseri) well up in 
the air flying in the same direction. The wind was north-northwest and 
northwest.— George H. Mackay, Nantucket , Mass. 
Auk Z.Jan, 1893. d.77 
Stray Noteg 
Gw.rai Not« B 8 . aQd >^ 88 . skeg, 
Branta bernicla.—Muskeget and Tuckernuck Islands, March 26, 1893. 
I estimate the number of Brant living in these waters at this date at about 
six hundred. Two wing-tipped birds I have in confinement eat with 
avidity the alga Ulva lactiicci . They also eat Zostera marina, preferring 
the white portion farthest from the extremity of the blade. They cut this 
up by chewing first on one side and then on the other of their mandibles 
which cuts the grass as clean as if scissors had been used. The motion 
reminds one strongly of a dog eating, the bird turning its head much in 
the same way. They are fond of whole corn and common grass. These 
confined birds drink after almost every mouthful from a pan of fresh water. 
The wild birds living in this neighborhood have no opportunity of obtain¬ 
ing fresh water. Auk a.. Oct, 1893 p 370 - 
Notes on Certain Water Birds in Mass. 
George H. Mackay. 
No Brant (Branta bernicla ) wintered around Muskeget Island 
during the winter of 1893 -94- The first that were noted weie 
five birds on February 15 , 1 S 94 . In less than one week the 
number increased to fifty, and on March 12 there were between 
four and five hundred, the larger half of which had come in 
since March 8 . I noticed considerable diminution in the food 
supply, many acres of the eel grass (Zostera tna7‘ina) having 
been killed. There was still remaining large areas that was 
(rnrul Auk XI. July. 1894 p. 224 
