GEESE. 123

Range—Pacific coast of North America, breeding chiefly about the shores of Norton Sound and the lower Yukon; south in winter to California, and, more rarely, to upper Mississippi Valley (Wisconsin, etc.) (Ridgw.).

173. Branta. beraicla. (Lima). BRANT. Ad.—Hcad, neck, throat, and upper breast black; sides of the neck speckled with white; back brown- ish gray, margined with grayish brown; longer and lateral upper tail-coverts white; lower breast ashy gray fading to white on the lower belly; sides darker. Im.—Similar, but with less white on the sides of the neck and wing-coverts, and secondaries tipped with white. L., 2600; W., 13-20; Tan, 2-20; B., 1-35.

Range—Northern parts of the northern hemisphere; breeds within the Arctic Circle; in America, migrates southward along the Atlantic coast, reach- ing the Carolinas in winter; rare in the interior.

Washington, rare W. V. Long Island, common T. V., Nov. 1 to May 15; a few winter. Sing Sing, A. V.

Nest, of grasses, moss, etc., lined with down, on the ground. Eggs, four, smooth and creamy white in color, 2-70 x 1'80 (Saunders).

“Its manner of flying is different from that of the Canada Goose— moving in more compact bodies. less rapidly, and without seeming to have a chosen leader—that marked characteristic in the flight of the latter.

“While in our bays it appears inactive, seldom taking to wing un- less disturbed by a passing boat or the near report of a gun.

“ The Brent rises slowly, and when on the wing moves sluggishly for a short distance, and, if not attracted by a distant flock, frequently returns to the place it had left. Its food consists of a marine plant (Zostera marina), commonly called ‘eel grass.’ At low water it is seen industriously at work tearing up its favorite plant. After the tide. has risen to such a height as to compel it to relinquish its voca- tion, it is seen drifting with the current, feeding sumptuously on the fruits of its labor ” (Giraud).

174. manta. nigricans (Lawn). BLACK BRANT.—Bears a general resemblance to the preceding species, but may be readily distinguished by its much darker lower breast and upper belly, which are nearly as dark as the back, and by having white markings on the front as well as on the sides of the neck.

Range—“Arctic and western North America; rare or casual on the At- lantic coast” (A. O. U.). “Breeds in abundance on the arctic coast of Liver~ pool Bay ” (Macfarlane).

Long Island, A. V.

Nest, of grasses, moss, etc., lined with down, on the ground. Eggs, five to seven, dull ivory-white or grayish white, 2'85 x 1'82 (B., B., and R.).

. This is the western representative of the preceding species. It is of casual occurrence on the Atlantic coast.