BRANT SHOOTING 287 



warm enough to hatch out their eggs, and where food 

 is plenty and nutritious, for they come down in the 

 fall of the year fat and sleek as a pullet. The young 

 birds come south strong of wing and as cunning as — 

 well, I might say of them what Buckingham said of 

 the little Duke of York : " So cunning and so young 

 is wonderful ! " 



Monomoy Island lies off the mainland in the ocean 

 a few miles from Chatham, Mass. Between the island 

 and the mainland the succulent sea-grass (the favorite 

 food of the brant) waves gracefully to the gentle 

 swell of the tide or the fierce northeaster — which, 

 by the way, has been blowing a gale since we arrived. 



The stretch of sheltered water here is large enough 

 to leave the birds plenty of room to move around in 

 swinging columns without coming within range of the 

 sink boxes ; and it is only when the tides and winds 

 are favorable that the birds are brought within the 

 line of danger. The Monomoy Branting Club — the 

 only club of the sort, I believe, on the continent — has 

 a couple of comfortable houses built on a bluff or 

 dune. It also has artistically constructed sink boxes, 

 placed at the most favorable points, and a large stock 

 of wooden decoys. Live brant with clipped wings 

 help to lure their kindred into danger, and with as 

 much apparent satisfaction and enjoyment as the set- 

 ter dog takes in flushing grouse or quail. The club is 

 formed mostly of Eastern gentlemen and all of 



