THE COMMON BEANT 273 



selves as much as their anchors and road lines 

 will permit. When, as the rising tide drifts 

 them in, the flocks of Brants see these captives 

 upon their little islands, they paddle in to clam- 

 ber up and take part in their joys. The gun- 

 ners, for there are usually several in a box, 

 may make a heavy killing, each taking a sep- 

 arate portion of the flock and raking it with 

 deadly effect at a given signal. After a few 

 such experiences the birds usually ''tower" 

 into the air to a great height and bear away 

 for the north. A wounded Brant is commonly 

 captured, for it seldom dives nor is it a fast 

 swimmer. 



The name, Brant Goose, is a corruption of 

 Brent, or Burnt, Goose, referring to its char- 

 coal coloring. 



The Pacific coast and western country has a 

 representative of the race which is closely re- 

 lated to this species — the Black Brant. This 

 also winters on the Asiatic coast as well as on 

 our own. 



