LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN WILD FOWL 255 



Another idiosyncrasy of this bird is its marlved distaste for passing over 

 low ranges of hills whicli may cross its path. A striking case of this is 

 shown here where a low spur runs out from the distant hills in the form 

 of a grass-covered ridge projecting several miles into tlie flat marshy land. 

 This ridge is from 50 to 200 feet above the surrounding country and bars the 

 course of the black brant. So slight an obstacle as this is enough to cause at 

 least 95 per cent of the flocks to turn abruptly from their path and pass along 

 its base to round the end several miles beyond, and then continue their pas- 

 sage. In consequence of this habit it has been a regular practice for years 

 for the hunters to occupy positions along the front of this ridge and deal 

 destruction to the brant, which still hold as pertinaciously as ever to their 

 right of way. 



Doctor Nelson (1887) says: 



While upon the ground or in flight they have a low guttural note something 

 like the syllables gr-r-r-r-r, AVhen alarmed this note, repeated often and with 

 more emphasis, was the only cry heard. 



W. Leon Dawson (1909) writes: 



From the esthetic standpoint the most interesting phase of brant life is 

 the mellow cronk, cronk, crank, which the birds frequently emit whether in 

 flight or at rest. From the back bay near Dungeness in April rises a babel 

 like the spring offering of a giant frog-pond, a chorus of thousands of croak- 

 ing voices, among which the thrilling basso of bullfrogs predominates. 



Mr. Ploare writes me that, at Point Hope, the brant " suffer very 

 much from the depredations of the gulls and hawks." He " found 

 many eggs scattered and broken." He says: 



This summer I witnessed a battle between a male brant and three gulls. 

 The female brant was on the nest and did not move. The gulls kept return- 

 ing to the attack and were very fierce. Usually they are cowardly. Eventu- 

 ally the brant drove them away, although badly mauled. I could not find it 

 in my heart to disturb the female on the nest. 



Fall. — According to Mr. Murdoch (1885) the fall migi-ation at 

 Point Barrow begins early; he writes: 



After the middle of August they begin to fly across the isthmus at Pergniak. 

 coming west along the shore of Elson Bay, crossing to the ocean, and turning 

 southwest along the coast. Whenever during August the wind is favorable 

 for a flight of eiders at Pergniak the brant appear also. They, however, fre- 

 quently turn before reaching the beach at Pergniak, follow down the line of 

 lagoons and cross to the sea lower down the coast. Tlie adults return first. 

 No young of the year were taken till the end of August. During the first 

 half of September, a geod many flocks cross the land at the inlets as well as at 

 Pergniak, and are to be seen resting and feeding along the lagoons and 

 pond holes. At this season they are very shy and hard to approach, and all 

 are gone by the end of September. 



Doctor Nelson (1887) says: 



Some old whaling captains assured me that they have frequently seen these 

 birds coming from over tlie ice to the north of Point P>arr()W in fall ; and to 

 tiie hardy navigators of these seas this is strong evidence in support of tlie 



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