Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 03.djvu/479

* BBANE. 423 BEANT. Its history is told and its various forms illus- trated in Andrews, Old-Time Punishments (Lon- don, 1890). Consult also Earle, Curious Punish- ments of BiIii.tox (1819-92). An American soldier. He was bom in the District of Columbia: graduated at West Point in 1841, and in 1847, during the Mexican War, partici- pated as first lieutenant in the various battles of the Southern campaign. In September, 1801, he was appointed brigadier-general of volunteers, and from Januarj- to March, 18G2, commanded the Department of Key West. He served from June, 1862, to January, 1863, in the Department of the South, of which he was twice temporarily in command, and during this time commanded the Saint .John's River expedition (September, 1802), and took part in the battle of Pocotaligo. During the Tennessee campaign of 1863 lie com- manded a division, participated in the battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga, and from De- cember, 1863. to ilay, 1864, was engaged in reorganizing the artillery of the Army of the Cumberland. From ilay to October, 1864, he took |)art in the invasion of Georgia, and after the capture of Atlanta arranged the artillery for the defense of that place. At the close of the war he was bi-evetted major-general of vohin- teers and both brigadier-general and major- general in the regular army, for 'gallant and meritorious services,' and subsequently served at various army posts, as lieutenant-colonel and colonel, until 1882, when he retired from active service. BKAlfNEB, .Jon.N- Caspar (1850—). An American geologist. He was born at Xew Market, Tenn., studied at Cornell University, and in 1S75T7 was a member of the Imperial Geo- logical Commission of Brazil. From 1882 to 1883 he was agent in Brazil for the United States De- partment of .griculture, and from 1883 to 1885 Topographical Geologist of the Pennsylvania Geological Surs'ey. He was appointed professor of geology at the University of Indiana in 1885; in 1892 was called to a similar chair at the Leland Stanford, Jr. University. From 1887 to 1893 he was State Geologist of Arkansas, and in his official capacity w'as an important factor in the development of the mineral resources of that State. In 1899 he directed a geological ex- pedition to Brazil, and in the same year was appointed vice-president of the Lcland Stanford, Jr. I'niversity. He is a member of many scien- tific societies in the United States and foreign countries, is associate editor of the Journal of OpoIoiji/, and has made numerous important contributions to the American Journal of Sci- enre, and to the Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society and of the American Asso- ciation for the Advancement of Science. Among his most important ])ublications are: Annual ftcports of the I'^fnte Oeoloqist of Arkansas (Lit- tle Rock, 1887-1901) : -Cotton in the Empire of Brazil," Vniterl States Department of Atjricul- itire, iliscellaneous Hpenial Reports (1885): and "Bibliography of Clays and the Ceramic Arts." United States Geological Survey Bulletin, Ko. J/iS (1890). BBANT (probably refers to the dark color, meaning something burnt ; cf. brand). The name piven 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 Uy less raj)idly, in more compact grou])s, and williout a chosen leader. The common brant (Hranta bernicla) ij 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 Kurope and eastern North America on the approach of winter. The nest is made on llie ground, from grasses, moss, etc., and is lined with feathers; the eggs are said to be creamy- white in color and only four in numlxT. 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 slowly, 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-gi-ass' (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 ri.ses and it has to give up this method of work, it floats lazily on the water, enjoying the feast which it has earaed. 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 brant is rei)laeed by the black brant {Branta nigricans), 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 in 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 barnacle-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 (Wild.) BRANT, Joseph (TnAVENDANEOEA) (c.l742- 1807). A celebrated Mohawk Indian chief. When very young he became a favorite of Sir William .Tohnson, who sent him to Dr. Eleazar Wheelock's school, at I-ebanon. Conn., out of which later grew Dartmouth College. Here he obtained a fair education and joined the Epis- copal Church, of which he remained a member throughout life. For some time he was a mis- sionary among the Jfohawk Indians, and he trans- lated into their language the Prayer-Book and parts of the New Testament. He was early dis- tinguished for his physical prowess, and rendered valuable services to the English in both the French and Indian and the Pontiae wars. In 1774 he became the secretary of Guy Johnson, superintendent of Indian affairs, and throughout the Revolutitmary War he served against the Americans, leading ninnerous sanguinary raids, participating in the Cherry Valley and Mini- sink massacres, and taking an active part in the battle of Oriskany. He was not, however, present at the Wyoming massacre, as he is rep- resented to have been in Campbell's Gertrude of Wyoming; and he seems, for the most part, to