August, 1882.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



14V) 



Branting at Monomoy. 



Monoiiioy Island lies foui- miles south of 

 the southeast corner of Cape Cod. At its 

 north end is a small island on which the 

 club have a snug and comfortable house. 

 The writer was the guest of L. O. Sloeuni, 

 Esq., of the Monomoj Brant Club, from 

 March 2.5th to April 1st. 



The Brant, also called Brant Goose, 

 {Brenta bernicla,) winters on the coast of 

 the Southern States. They are said to be 

 abundant off Currituck Sound, N. C. and 

 very difficult to get except from batteries. 

 Early in March they begin to appear in the 

 bay formed by Martha's Vineyard, Nan- 

 tucket, Monpmoy and Cape Cod. In this 

 large enclosm-e are the feeding grounds to 

 which they repair each year. When feed- 

 ing they tip up after the manner of many 

 ducks, but I was not able to learn of their- 

 diving. They feed upon the tender shoots 

 of a kind of grass that grows in shallow 

 water. 



Extensive flats are uncovered at low tide 

 for a distance of one-half to three-fourths 

 of a mile to the westward, and two miles 

 to the northward of the island. Along 

 the outer edge of this flat the giruners' 

 boxes are sunken. They measiu-e 6x4: by 

 3^ feet deep, and vrill contain three men. 

 The boxes are occupied from the time the 

 water begins to cover the flats until it sub- 

 sides and leaves bare ground. The rising 

 tide makes the Brant restless as they are 

 put out of reach of their feed, and greater 

 or less numbers ^'isit the feeding grounds 

 at the north of the island. A strong 

 wind, particularly a sou'-wester, distiu-bs 

 the water and caixses them to seek a more 

 quiet place, and is especially desii-able. As 

 Brant do not fly close to the shore it is 

 only while the water covers the flats that 

 they can be intercepted by the boxes. Each 

 box is provided with about thirty wooden 

 decoys and two live Brant, so fastened as 

 not to impede theii- walking and swim- 

 ming. They are held in check by a cord 

 running to the box. The Brant tendeis 



say the sham decoys are worthless, as old 

 Brants readily recognize the deceit, and 

 large flocks are rarely tolled in by them. 

 On the other hand, when the wild birds 

 come near, the tame decoys are made to 

 flutter liy pulling the string. On a nearer 

 approach they readily answer their calls, 

 thus enticing theii- own species on to de- 

 struction. It was my fortune to get the 

 best shot offered to our party. George 

 Bearse, a Brant tender, and myself went 

 to the North Bar box. The day was cold 

 and the wind northwest. Suddenly a flock 

 of about 35 Brant came from behind at a 

 distance of perhaps 200 yards to our left, 

 and swinging around into the wind they 

 dropped into the water, heading directly 

 for us. Five were quite a distance in ad- 

 vance of the rest. Our two tame decoys 

 gave their rolling gutteral hawk in answer 

 to the on-coming flock. The five ahead 

 swam among the wooden decoys, discov- 

 ered their true nature, and swam back to 

 the rest. AU were now turning to go 

 away, and George said : " Ready ! one, 

 two, fire !" 



The smoke settled so we could see noth- 

 ing, but both held on to the spot. In an 

 instant it cleared and the smoke from two 

 more barrels shut off" our view. In another 

 second we saw what we had done. George 

 sung out, '• After the wounded ! " and both 

 sjDrang out into the water, only knee deep 

 at first, but gradually growing deeper. 

 After a tedious chase, four of the five 

 woimded were secured and the nine dead, 

 making thii'teen. While on our way to the 

 box with the dead in hand a single Brant 

 was seen coming. It lit among the wood- 

 en decoys and was easily secured. Single 

 birds are frequently found among the life- 

 less decoys, and apparently with no sense 

 of danger. The Brant are generally very 

 shy and will not permit boats within sev- 

 eral hundred yards. 



With every warm southerly wind new 

 flocks arrive and alight among the others 

 out in the bay, where long lines of them, 

 and often acres, may be seen. Occasion- 



