148 AMERICAN GAME. 



averse to rising on the wing, and rarely doing so unless 

 alarmed by a passing boat or the firing of a gun ; and 

 this tendency is increased in consequence of its feeding 

 afloat at high water, without taking the wing at all, 

 while the other varieties of wild-fowl, as point after point 

 is successively submerged, are compelled to take wing, 

 and cross the points of hassock, or run the gauntlet of 

 the islands in going to or returning from his favorite feed- 

 ing place. 



Second, the known aversion of this bird to pass over 

 or near points or islands, which is no less manifest in its 

 transits up and down the bay, than in its longer voyages, 

 for it may be said that it never when on the wing ap- 

 proaches the gunner's ambush, or notices his decoys, 

 however temptingly they may ride and dip at anchor, 

 when near the land, unless they be jammed down by the 

 wind upon a leeward point, one of which is always se- 

 lected by the best gunners who have watched the direc- 

 tion of their morning transit, and who know how they 

 must return. This difficulty is but partially compensated 

 by the habit of the Brant of occasionally swimming in 

 among the stools, and so affording an easy and sure shot. 

 There is another fact, however, which, as I said above, 

 may be made directly subservient to this sport, and thus 

 it is Brent Geese, while feeding, as they drift about at 

 high water, may be herded like so many sheep, and 

 caused to swim in any direction desired, and may be so 

 driven down upon the decoys, for which they are almost 



