LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN WILD FOWL 47 



Many come from the east in September and cross the isthmus at Pergniak, 

 and continue on down the coast to the soutliwest. AVe noticed them going 

 southwest past Point Franklin, August 31, 1883, in very large flocks. After 

 October 1 they grow scarcer, but some are always to be seen as late as there 

 is any open water. 



In northern Labrador similar movements take place ; " from the 

 last of August to the middle of October immense numbers of these 

 birds assemble in Hudson Straits," according to Mr. Turner's notes ; 

 he says that they disappear from Fort Chimo about the middle of 

 November. 



On the New England coast the first cold storm of late October 

 brings a few scattering flocks of oldsquaws, but it is not until late 

 in the fall or when early winter conditions are almost here that the 

 heavy flight comes along ; driven like snowflakes ahead of a howling 

 norther, flock after flock of these hardy little sea fowl sweep and 

 whirl over the cold gray waves; or high in the air they twist and 

 turn, twinkling like black and white stars against the leaden sky. 

 The shore birds' whistles are no longer heard; they have passed on 

 to warmer climes ; but like the cries of a distant pack of hounds the 

 merry notes of the oldsquaws cheer the gunner's heart as he sits in 

 his anchored boat behind a string of wooden decoys waiting for a 

 shot at passing "'coots." The main flight of scoters has passed, an 

 occasional V-shaped flock of geese passes overhead, honking its 

 warning of approaching winter, and soon long lines of brant will 

 be looked for winging their apparently slow and heavy flight close 

 to the water. As Walter H. Rich (1907) puts it: 



Winter is close at hand. There is a sting in the wind, a nip in the air, and 

 the fingers are numb and blue as they hold the gun barrels. But out on the 

 water, careless of wind or wave, rides a flock of " squaws " making always a 

 merry clatter. Ever and anon some of their number rise against the breeze 

 to dart off at lightning speed, apparently in the mere enjoyment of flight, for, 

 circling a half a mile about, they plump down again among their comrades, all 

 the time noisily calling to each other. We might almost say they are the only 

 song birds among the ducks, for really their notes are very pleasant to hear 

 and quite musical in comparison with the usual vocal production of the 

 family. 



Game. — Oldsquaws are not held in much esteem as game birds; 

 their flesh is rank, fishy, and tough; but there are gunners that will 

 eat them. Many are shot, however, every fall by gunners who are 

 out after scoters; later in the season large flocks of oldsquaws fre- 

 quently pass over or along the line of boats anchored in their path. 

 They decoy well to the wooden blocks used for this kind of shooting, 

 and are often quite tame or full of curiosity. They often ofl^er tempt- 

 ing shots, and their flight is so swift and erratic that it requires con- 

 siderable skill and practice to hit a single bird ; when they are flying 

 before the wind one must hold well ahead of them. They are so 



