Nelson on the Black Bra?it. 
136 
In addition to this horizontal movement is a still more interest 
ing vertical one which often occurs At the same time as the other 
but generally by itself. A bird at either end of the flock rises or 
descends a few inches or several feet, as the case may be, and the 
movement is instantly followed in succession by every one of its 
companions till the extreme bird is reached and the entire flock is 
on the new level ; or, it may be that a bird near the middle of 
the line 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’s 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. 
Another idiosyncracy of this bird is its marked distaste for 
passing over low ranges of hills which may cross its path. A 
striking case of this is shown here where a low spur runs out 
from the distant hills in the form of a grass-covered ridge project- 
ing several miles into the flat marshy land. This ridge is from 
fifty to two hundred feet above the surrounding country and bars the 
course of the Black Brant. So slight an obstacle as this is enough 
to cause at least ninety-five per cent of the flocks to turn abruptly 
from their path and pass along its base to round the end several 
miles beyond, and then continue their passage. In consequence 
of this habit it has been a regular practice for years for the hunt- 
ers to occupy positions along the front of this ridge and deal 
destruction to the Brant, which still hold as pertinaciously as ever 
to their right of way. 
The coast, from St. Michaels northward to about midway 
between Capes Darby and Nome, is hilly, and, in consequence, 
the Brant make straight across Norton Sound from this place to 
the vicinity of Cape Nome whence they follow the low coast-line 
to the north. As the Brant come from the south they make a 
“short cut” across the low country from the mouth of the Kus- 
