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Audubon found it breeding at Labrador, but was prevented from 

 seeming 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, ex- 

 ceeding in number the Canada Geese and Dusky Ducks. Its man- 

 ner of flying is different from that of the Canada Goose — moving in 

 more compact bodies, less rapidly, and without seeming to have a 

 chosen leader — that marked characteristic in the flight of the latter. 

 While in our bays it appears inactive, seldom taking to wing un- 

 less disturbed by a passing boat, or the near report of a gun. 



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

 ly for a short distance, and if not attracted by a distant flock, fre- 

 quently returns to the place it had left. Its food consists 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 relin- 

 quish its vocation, it is seen drifting with the current, feeding sump- 

 tuously 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 excavations 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 in- 

 cluded in the Nicol's Patent, and rented to two brothers by the 

 name of Alliby at 8120 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 difficult to 

 be obtained, unless procured in the manner just mentioned, or by 



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

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



