136 Nelson on the Black Brant. 



In addition to this horizontal movement is a still more interest 

 ing vertical one which often occurs at the same time as the other 

 but generally by itself. A bird at either end of the flock rises or 

 descends a lew inches or several feet, as the case may be. and the 

 movement is instantly followed in succession by every one of its 

 companions till the extreme bird is reached and the entile flock is 

 on the new level : or. it may be that a bird near the middle of 

 the line changes its position when the motion extends in two 

 directions at once. These latter changes are made so regularly 

 and with such rapidity that the distance between the birds does 

 not appear altered in the least, while a motion exactly like a 

 graceful undulation runs the length of the flock lifting or depressing 

 it to the level of the originator of the movement. These changes 

 present to one's eye as the flocks approach, keeping close to the 

 ground, the appearance of a series of regular and swift waving- 

 motions such as pass along a pennant in a slight breeze. 



The Black Brant never wings its way fat up in the sky. as 

 many other Geese have the habit of doing, but keeps, as a rule, 

 between ten and thirty yards above the ground, with more Hocks 

 below these limits than above them. 



Another idiosvncracv of this bird is its marked distaste lot 

 passing over low ranges of hills which mav cross its path. A 

 striking case of this is shown here where a low spur runs out 

 from the distant hills in the form of a grass-covered ridge project- 

 ing several miles into the Hat marshy land. This ridge is from 

 fifty to two hundred feet above the surrounding country and bars the 

 course of the Black Brant. So slight an obstacle as this is enough 

 to cause at least ninety-five per cent of the flocks to turn abruptly 

 from their path and pass along its base to round the end several 

 miles bevond. and then continue their pas>age. In consequence 

 of this habit it has been a regular practice for years for the hunt- 

 ers to occupy positions along the front of this ridge and deal 

 destruction to the Brant, which still hold as pertinaciously as ever 

 to their right of way. 



The coast, from .St. Michaels northward to about midway 

 between Capes Darby and Nome, is hilly, and, in consequence, 

 the Brant make straight across Norton Sound from this place to 

 the vicinity of Cape Nome whence they follow the low coast-line 

 to the north. As the Brant come from the south they make a 

 ••short cut " across the low country from the mouth of the Kus- 



