haze, ov the clear sk\-. like a meteor from hehiiul you. or 

 straight on, a Imneh of binls may come, deceived by your 

 pair of live " honkers" and your hunch of wooden shams. 

 Or again, a flock may be feeding and unconsciously dritt- 

 ing with the intlowing tide towards your V)Ox. occasionally 

 giving a (juick. suspicious look, swinnning back a little, 

 then onward again, and, of course, to raise the tip of your 

 hat al)Ove the brim of the sand l)ank or to get u]) to stretch 

 yourself is tantamount to a speedy departure of the 

 "mysterious bird of the North." Therefore it is the 

 man who can stand this sort of work the best who is 

 likely to make the biggest bag. But a great deal depends 

 u]Hm the wind as well, for if the currents of air should 

 be blowing offshore there is not much chance of success- 

 ful shooting, as the wind constantly drifts them away 

 from the decoys, while they are feeding, and if any should 

 o-et shot and drop down at long range, they are apt to get 

 out of reach before they can be retrieved. 



We were seven days on Monumoy Island, and we 

 had a fierce Nor'easter blowing nearly the whole time, so 

 that what success we had thirty-six brant.) was solely 

 attributable to lots of patience and perseverance against 

 hard conditions. 



But the .sport compels you to be out in the open air. 

 t. < inhale the ozone and the ocean breezes, those twin bene- 

 factors that bring to the hunter his proverl)ial appetite. 

 And. Oh that appetite! Von have it and a digestion to 

 wait ..n it that might tackle a brick pile without getting 

 out of order. There is another thing you have, which is 

 not to be sneezed at— the gratification of kn-wing tliat 

 with your trusty gun. your hidden retreats, your enticing 



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