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 
