470 



LAMELLIROSTRAL SWI^EMERS — ANSERES. 



times they are present on the i'eeding-groiuKls in immense numbers. They never mi- 

 grate against a northeast wind, but await a breeze from tlie southwest. Tlieir course 

 is first east-northeast, but afterward so deflected as to bring them into the Bay of 

 Fundy, up which they pass, rising over the narrow neck of land to Nortliumberland 

 Straits, where they find shoal-water and good feeding-grounds, and where they remain 

 until the end of May. Leaving the Gulf of St. Lawrence, their course is said to be 

 westward of Auticosti, and in a northwesterly direction, toward the Arctic Ocean. 

 Their exact route is partly conjectured. They are known to arrive in the vicinity of 

 Melville Island in immense numbers, and to pass along Wellington Channel to more 

 northern regions. That they also reach Smith's Sound, and breed in large numbers 

 at the junction of its waters with the Arctic Sea, has recently been ascertained by 

 Mr. Feilden's observations. 



Mr. Hapgood mentions as a noteworthy peculiarity of the Brant, when in confine- 

 ment, that it pecks at and eats decayed wood, and suggests that this seems to indicate 

 that driftwood may be no inconsiderable portion of its food in Arctic regions, which 

 in some regions is quite abundant. In their southern migrations the Brant are said 

 to make no stop at Cape Vod, unless compelled by stress of weather, but spend their 

 winter months along shore from Barnegat to Florida. L)r. Kane regarded the i)res- 

 ence of this bird in large numbers as clearly indicative of open water. 



On Long Island, where it is familiarly known as the Brant, according to Dr. 

 Giraud it makes its appearance about the loth of October. In the spring and au- 

 tumn it is very numerous on the coast, exceeding in number botli the Canada Goose 

 and the Dusky Duck. Its manner of flight is very different from that of B. canadensis. 

 It moves in more (iompact bodies, less rapidly, and without seeming to have any cho- 

 sen leader. AVhile in the bays of Long Island it seems to be inactive, seldom taking 

 to wing, unless disturbed by a passing boat or the near approach of a gun. 



It rises slowly, and when on the wing moves sluggishly for a short distance, and, 

 unless attracted by a distant flock, frequently returns to the place just left. Its food 

 there consists largely of the Zostent mnrhw, or eel-grass. At low water it may be 

 seen industriously at work tearing uj) its favorite jdant. When the tide has risen to 

 such a height as to compel it to relinquish its work, it then drifts with the current, 

 feeding on the fruits of its labor. 



The Brant is very fond of what is known to hunters as '* sanding," and resorts to 

 sandbars for that i)urpose, where it is killed in great numbers by men who secrete 

 themselves in excavations made in the sand. The locality known as Fire Island Bar. 

 on the south side of Long Island, is a celebrated point for procuring this species. 

 Giraud was informed in 1840 that the lessees of this island sent to the New York 

 market annually from this bar several hundred dollars' worth of birds — chiefly 

 Brant. In passing over the Long Island bays, these birds avoid as much as possible 

 the points of land and the tussocks of grass, and this makes them diflicult to obtain, 

 except in the manner descrii^ed, or by shooting them from batteries anchored in the 

 shallow parts of the bays. These batteries are constructed by taking a box six feet 

 long, two and a half wide, and one foot deej), with sides and ends shelving, on which 

 sand is placed, to imitate a bar. The upper edges of these boxes are even with the 

 surface of the water, and in them the hunters lie concealed, having a number of 

 decoys around. By means of this arrangement one man can often discharge, with 

 deadly effect, two double-barrelled guns into a flock. A statute was passed in 1838 

 prohibiting the use of this methof^ of killing birds ; but this law was defied and openly 

 violated, and becoming a dead leti;er, was at last rejiealed. 



While the Brant is not known to dive for its food, it not infrequently endeavors 



