WILD FOWL. 71 



The first flocks generally remain in the bay a few days, and 

 then pass on to the South. On recommencing their journey, 

 they collect in very large bodies, and making an extensive spiral 

 course of some miles in diameter, rise to a great height in the 

 air and then steer for the sea, over which they uniformly travel, 

 often making wide circles to avoid passing over a projecting 

 point of land. In these aerial routs, they have been met with 

 many leagues from shore, travelling the whole night. Their line 

 of march very much resembles that of the Canada Goose, with 

 this exception, that frequently three or four are crowded 

 together in the front, as if striving for precedency. Flocks 

 continue to arrive from the North, and many remain in the bay 

 till December, or until the weather becomes very severe, when 

 these also move off southwardly. During their stay they feed 

 on the bars at low water, seldom or never in the marshes ; 

 their principal food being a remarkably long and broad- 

 leafed marine plant of a bright-green color, which adheres to 

 stones, and is called by the country-people sea-cabbage ; the 

 leaves of this are sometimes eight or ten inches broad by two or 

 three feet in length ; they also eat small shell-fish. They never 

 dive, but wade about, feeding at low water. During the time 

 of high water, they float in the bay in long lines, particularly in 

 calm weather. Their voice is hoarse and howling, and when 

 some hundreds are screaming together, reminds one of a pack 

 of hounds in full cry. They often quarrel among themselves, 

 and with the Ducks, driving the latter off" their feeding ground. 

 Though it never dives in search of food, yet when wing-broke, 

 the Brant vdll go one hundred yards underwater at a stride, and 

 is considered, under such circumstances, one of the most diffi- 

 cult birds to kill. 



" About the 15th or 20th of May they reappear on their way 

 North, but seldom stop long unless driven in by tempestuous 

 weather. The breeding place of the Brant is supposed to be 

 very far to the North. They are common at Hudson's Bay, 

 very numerous in winter on the coasts of Holland and Ireland, 

 and called in Shetland Harra-Geese, from their frequenting the 



