WILD FOWL. 67 



October. Mr. Audubon found it breeding at Labrador, but was 

 prevented from securing its eggs in consequence of the great 

 depth of the moss on which it was nesting. 



" In the spring and autumn it is very numerous on our coast, 

 exceeding in number the Canada Geese and Dusky Ducks. Its 

 manner of ilying is different from that of the Canada Goose — 

 moving in more compact bodies, less rapidly, and without seem- 

 ing to have a chosen leader — that marked characteristic in the 

 flight of the latter. While in our bays it appears inactive, sel- 

 dom taking to wing unless disturbed by a passing boat or the 

 near report of a gun. 



" The Brent rises slowly, and when on the wing, moves slug- 

 gishly for a short distance, and if not attracted by a distant 

 flock, frequently returns to the place it had left. Its food con- 

 sists of a marine plant — Zostera marina — commonly called ' eel- 

 grass.' At low water it is seen industriously at work, tearing 

 up its favorite plant. After the tide has risen to such a height 

 as to compel it to relinquish its vocation, it is seen drifting with 

 the current, feeding sumptuously on the fruits of its labor. 



" I have examined a number of these birds, and in no 

 instance have I found fish in them. 



" The Brent Geese are very fond of sanding, and resort to 

 the bars for that purpose, at which places they are killed in 

 great numbers by the gunners who secrete themselves in exca- 

 vations made in the sand. The bar known as ' Fire Island 

 Bar,' on the south side of Long Island, is a celebrated place for 

 procuring them. It is included in the Nicol's Patent, and rent- 

 ed to two brothers by the name of AUiby at $120 per annum. 

 I am informed that these men send to the New York market 

 annually several hundred dollars' worth of birds, the larger 

 proportion of which is Brent. 



" This species, when passing over our bays, avoids as much as 

 possible the points and ' kussicks,'* which makes it very diffi- 



* " ' Kussick,' ' hasaick,' or 'thatch,' — local terms used by gunners, sig- 

 nifying large tussocks of tall grass that occur in the bays " 



