90 Birds of Nokth Carolina 



"In Pamlico Sound the long extended lines of submerged sand-bars and mud- 

 flats, with their abundant supplies of eel-srrass, make an ideal nnnter resort for the 

 Brant. Tliey arrive from the North usually early in Xovcnil)er, but the exact date 

 depends much upon weather conditions. In flight t hry usually go in compact flocks 

 without an}' apparent leader. They move slowly and often appear loath to leave 

 a favorite feeiling ground, even returning to it many times aftt-r being disturbed. 



Fig. 58. Brant. 



"As the Hesh is much esteemed for food, large ]uiiul)ers are annually killed and 

 shipped to northern markets. In North Carolina it is customary to hunt them with 

 the aid of wooden decoys. Twenty-five or thirty Brant decoys, together with per- 

 haps a hundred others painted to represent Redheads, Canvasbacks, and Black- 

 heads are anchored near a blind or floating battciy in shoal water, often two or 

 three miles from land. Here the hunter, well concealed, awaits the game which, 

 lured from a distance by the flock of bobbing decoys, draws near to join their sup- 

 posed friends. The birds fly slowly and often flit entirely around the batterj' before 

 heading up to windward preparatory to alighting. Wiiile in tins position, with the 

 breast presented, feet lowered, and wings expanded, the Brant presents a mark 

 which even the amateur sportsman cannot easily miss. If about to pass unnoticed, 

 the gunner may freciuentlj' attract them by raising and lowering his foot or slowly 

 lifting liis cap aloft. I have seen them attempt to pitch among decoys after the 

 attendant's boat had apiiroaclied and two or three men were wading about gather- 

 ing them in. 



"On clear winter days, as one sails along the reefs in the region about Ocraeoke 

 or Ilatteras, flocks of Brant, disturbed from their feeding areas, arise in almost 

 constant succession for miles, their numbers running far into the tens of thousands. 

 When heavy winds arise these large rafts are broken up, and later when the birds 



