240 GAME BISDS OF CALIFORNIA 



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 'a 

 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 far 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 flocks below these limits than above them. 



The Black Brant ' ' rafts ' ' far out on the sea during much of the day. 

 Here the members of a flock keep up a constant gabble which is said 

 to resemble somewhat the croaking of frogs. At certain changes of 

 the tide the birds fly to the kelp-beds to feed. 



During the winter residence of this Brant upon the shore of California it 

 is noted for its pertinacity in following the outline of the coast as it passes from 

 place to place. In the north this habit still clings to them, and although they 

 frequently pass over broad, marshy flats, yet a low ridge, but a few yards 

 high above the general level, is sufiicient to turn their course and send them' 

 skimming along its base and around the obstacle rather than over it (Nelson, 

 1887, p. 88). 



The food of the Black Brant is made up largely of marine plants 

 for which it often dives as well as dips. The kelp beds off-shore offer 

 the most attractive feeding grounds. In addition to the vegetable 

 food, marine Crustacea are probably eaten M'hen available. Cooper 

 {in Baird, Brewer and Ridgway, 1884, I, p. 473) says that in San 

 Diego Bay the Brant fed almost exclusively on the leaves and roots 

 of eel grass (Zostera marina). In Tomales Bay the birds also feed 

 largely on this grass. A number of specimens from Humboldt Bay 

 examined by W. E. Bryant (1893a, p. 55) had beeii feeding entirely 

 on eel grEiss. 



According to Sanford, Bishop and Van Dyke (1903, p. 544) this 

 is the most "gamy" of all our waterfowl and generally the finest 

 flavored. The slight marine flavor, is far from being unpleasantly 

 fishy, and resembles that of the oyster. 



The Black Brant evades the devices of the hunter better than any 

 other duck or goose. In very early days on San Diego Bay it was 

 never seen to alight on the shore or near it. By 1875 it was almost 

 impossible to obtain a shot at the bird from a boat, and even with a 

 box sunk in the mud and concealed by sea-weed a good bag was secured 

 with difficulty. In 1883 a floating battery with plenty of decoys alone 

 would enable a hunter to obtain this much prized bird. A few years 

 later many of the birds failed to put in an appearance at all off San 

 Diego, probably going farther south, along the Mexican coast. 



