BRANT (probably refers to the dark color. meaning something burnt; cf. brand). The name given to various species of goose of the genus Branta. The brants may be recognized by the black cheeks and chin taken in connection with the white patches or streaks on the sides of the neck. They are considerably smaller than the common wild goose, and Ily less rapidly, in more compact groups, and without a chosen leader. The common Brant (Bran(a berniela) found throughout the northern portions of the whole Northern Hemisphere. It breeds in the far north, well within the Arctic circle, but migrates south ward in Europe and eastern North America on the approach of winter. The nest is made on the ground, from grasses, moss, etc., and is lined with feathers: the eggs are said to be creamy white in color and only four in number. The brant, though occasionally seen in the interior of the United States, is chiefly marine, and is most abundant in shallow bays along the coast, rarely as far south as the Carolinas. It is rather sluggish in its movements, seldom taking to flight unless alarmed. It rises from the water and often returns to the same point whence it started, unless attracted by another flock. It feeds chiefly on vegetable matter, the so-called 'eel-grass' (Zostera ) furnishing a large part of its diet. It pulls this at low tide, diving
and tearing it up with its beak: and then, as the tide rises and it has to give up this method of work, it floats lazily on the water. enjoying the feast which it has earned. For the eel-grass, when pulled, floats, and so the bird can feed on it at leisure after the water is too deep for agree able diving.
In the western part of the United States the common levant is replaced by the black brant (Brant(' nigrirans), in which the lower breast and upper part of the belly are nearly as dark as the back. The black brant breeds with the common brant in the Arctic regions: but its migrating southward it resorts to the Pacific Coast and the Western States, and is rarely seen in the East. The name is sometimes given to other species of goose, and the common brant is often confused with the barnaele-goose (q.v.)— a very rare. accidental visitant in the United States. The snow-goose (q.v.) is sometimes called 'white Brant.' but it is not properly a Brant, which it resembles only in size. See GoosE, and Plate of DUCKS (Wuxi.)