104 GEESE 



eggs are creamy white in colour and average 2.82 by 1.85 inches. The 

 period of incubation is probably about four weeks, and, though incuba- 

 tion is performed by the female alone, she is not deserted by the male. 

 As is the usual habit among geese, the gander assists in the raising of 

 the family. Ekblaw, quoted by Bent (1925) says: "As soon as the young 

 are hatched they hurry to sea. They dive and swim agilely almost as 

 soon as they reach the water. Several broods of young are wont to con- 

 gregate together, the mothers aiding one another in vigilant guidance 

 and guard over the flock. They are exceedingly shy, and it is well-nigh 

 impossible to approach them except by surprise. They grow and develop 

 fast, so that by mid-September they are ready for their departure. As 

 soon as the ice begins to form in the fjords the brants begin to leave. 

 By October 1 the last long, low-flying files of migrating brant have passed 

 the outer capes; almost nine months slip by before they appear again." 



Of the American Brant, Bent (1925) says: "Brant do not ordinarily 

 fly in V-shaped flocks, like Canada Geese, but in long undulating lines, 

 spread out laterally in straight company-front formation, or in a curv- 

 ing line, or in an irregular bunch, and without a definite leader. When 

 migrating overland they fly high, but when travelling along the coast 

 they usually fly within a few feet of the water. Their flight is apparently 

 slow and heavy, but it is really swifter than it seems. A flock of oncom- 

 ing brant is a thrilling sight to the expectant gunner; he can recognize 

 afar the long wavy line of heavy black birds; as they draw near, the 

 white hind parts show up in marked contrast to the black heads and 

 necks; and soon he can hear their gabbling, grunting notes of greeting 

 to his well-placed decoys. They are naturally shy birds, and we seldom 

 got a shot at the passing flocks when anchored off the shore in small 

 boats. But on their feeding grounds they are more fearless and will de- 

 coy well to live or even wooden decoys around a well-concealed blind. 

 Brant can swim well, but do not dive unless hard-pressed. They prefer 

 to skulk and hide by stretching the neck out on the water or in the grass. 

 They are very fond of sand and like to rest on sandy points and sand 

 bars .... 



"From the standpoint of the epicure the Brant is one of our finest 

 game birds, in my opinion the finest, not even excepting the far-famed 

 Canvas-back. I cannot think of any more delicious bird than a fat, 

 young Brant, roasted just right and served hot, with a bottle of good 

 Burgundy .... Real brant shooting may be had at only a few favored 

 localities where the birds are wont to congregate, and then only with an 

 elaborate equipment. It was a sorry day for the brant shooter when 

 spring shooting was abolished, for the Brant is the one bird above all 

 others for which spring seems to be the natural shooting season. Brant 

 seem to be more plentiful in the spring than in the fall and to linger 

 longer on their favorite feeding grounds at that season .... 



"On Monomoy our brant shooting is done from boxes located on 

 favorable points or sandbars near the feeding grounds .... Live decoys 



