LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN WILD FOWL 251 



activity, causes an unusual elation of spirits, and witti merry jests we speed 

 along until, in a short time, we approach a low, moundlike knoll rising in 

 the midst of innumerable lakelets. A strange humming, for which we were 

 at first unable to account, now becomes more distinct, and we perceive its 

 origin in the united notes of scores of flocks of brant which are dispersed 

 here and there over the half bare ground. Some sit along the edges of the 

 snow banks or upon the ground, still sleeping, while others walk carelessly 

 about or plume themselves iu preparation for the work before them. Their 

 low, harsh, gutteral gr-r-r-r, gr-r-r-r rises in a faint monotonous matinal whose 

 tone a week later may waken the weird silence in unknown lands about the 

 Pole. 



Reaching the knoll before mentioned, we pitch our tent, and after tieing the 

 dogs to keep them within bounds we separate to take positions for the morning 

 flight. Bach of the party is soon occupying as little space as possible behind 

 some insignificant knoll or tuft of grass that now and then breaks the monot- 

 onous level. The sun rises slowly higher and higher until at length the long, 

 narrow bands of fog hovering over the bare ground are routed. Now we have 

 not long to wait, for, as usual at this season, the lakes, which are frozen over 

 nightly, open under the rays of the sun between 7 and 9 in the morning and 

 start the waterfowl upon their way. The notes, which until now have been 

 uttered in a low conversational tone, are raised and heard more distinctly and 

 have a harsher intonation. The chorus swells and dies away like the sound of 

 an aeolian harp of one or two heavy bass strings, and as we lie close to the 

 ground the wind whispers among the dead plants in a low undertone as an 

 accompaniment ; but while we lay dreaming the sun has done its work ; the 

 lakes have opened, and suddenly a harsh gr-r-r-r, gr-r-r-r, gr-r-r-r causes us to 

 spring up, but too late, for, gliding away to the northward, the fijet flock goes 

 unscathed. After a few energetic remarks upon geese in general and this flock 

 in particular, we resume our position, but keep on the alert to do honor to the 

 next party. 



Soon, skimming along the horizon, flock after flock is seen as they rise 

 and hurry by on either side. Fortune now favors us, and a large flock makes 

 directly for the ambu.sh, their complicated and graceful evolutions leading us 

 to almost forget why we are lying here upon our face in the bog with our 

 teeth rattling a devil's tattoo in the raw wind. On they come, only a few feet 

 above the ground, until, when 20 or 30 yards away, we suddenly rise upon 

 one knee and strike terror into the hearts of the unsuspecting victims. In place 

 of the admirable order before obsei-ved, all is confusion and, seemingly in hope 

 of mutual protection, the frightened birds crowd into a mass over the center 

 of the flock, uttering, the while, their ordinary note raised in alarm to a higher 

 key. This is the sportsman's time, and a double discharge as they are nearly 

 overhead will often bring down from 4 to 10 birds. Scarcely have the reports 

 died away when they once more glide along close to the ground ; the alarm 

 is forgotten ; order is again restored, and the usual note is heard as they 

 swiftly disappear in the distance. Thus they continue flying' until 1 or 2 

 o'clock in the afternoon when, after a pause of three or four hours, they 

 begin again and continue until after sundown. 



Nesting. — At Point Barrow, Alaska, according to John Murdoch 



(1885)— 



the black brant appear at the end of the main spring migrations of the water- 

 fowl, but in no very considerable numbers, following the same track as the 

 eiders. A few remain to breed and are to be seen flying about the tundra 



