I 
I 
I August, 1882.] 
Branting at Monomoy. 
Monomoy Island lies four miles south of 
the southeast corner of Cape Cod. At its 
north end is a small island on which the 
club have a snug and comfortable house. 
The writer was the guest of L. O. Slocum, 
Esq., of the Monomoy Brant Club, from 
March 25th to April 1st. 
The Brant, also called Brant Goose, 
{Brenta bernicla,) winters on the coast of 
the Southern States. They are said to be 
abundant off Currituck Sound, N. C., and 
very difficult to get except from batteries. 
Early in March the}' begin to appear in the 
bay formed by Martha’s Vineyard, Nan¬ 
tucket, Monomoy and Cape Cod. In this 
large enclosure are the feeding grounds to 
which they repair each year. When feed¬ 
ing they tip up after the manner of many 
ducks, but I was not able to learn of their, 
fhving. They feed upon the tender shoots 
of a kind of grass that grows in shallow 
water. 
Extensive flats are uncovered at low tide 
for a distance of one-half to three-fourths 
of a mile to the w'estward, and two miles 
to the northward of the island. Along 
the outer edge of this flat the gimners’ 
boxes are sunken. They measure 6 X 4 by 
3^ feet deep, and will contain three men. 
The boxes are occupied from the time the 
water begins to cover the flats until it sub¬ 
sides and leaves bare ground. The rising 
tide makes the Brant restless as they are 
put out of reach of their feed, and greater 
or less numbers visit the feeding grounds 
at the north of the island. A strong 
wind, particularly a sou’-wester, disturbs 
the water and causes them to seek a more 
quiet place, and is especially desirable. As 
Brant do not fly close to the shore it is 
only while the water covers the flats that 
they can be intercepted by the boxes. Each 
box is provided with about thirty wooden 
decoys and two live Brant, so fastened as 
not to impede their walking and swim¬ 
ming. They are held in check Vjy a cord 
running to the box. The Brant tenders 
149 
say the sham decoys are worthless, as old 
Brants readily recognize the deceit, and 
large flocks are rarely tolled in by them. 
On the other hand, when the wild birds 
come near, the tame decoys are made to 
flutter by pulling the string. On a nearer 
approach they readily answer their calls, 
thus enticing their own species on to de¬ 
struction. It was my fortune to get the 
best shot offered to our party. George 
Bearse, a Brant tender, and myself went 
to the North Bar box. The day was cold 
and the wind northwest. Suddenly a flock 
of about 35 Brant came from behind at a 
distance of perhaps 200 yards to oiir left, 
and swinging arotind into the wind they 
dropped into the water, heading directly 
for us. Five were quite a distance in ad¬ 
vance of the rest. Our two tame decoys 
gave their rolling gxitteral hawk in answer 
to the on-coming flock. The five ahead 
swam among the wooden decoys, discov¬ 
ered their true nature, and swam back to 
the rest. All were now turning to go 
away, and George said: “ Ready! one. 
two, fire!” 
The smoke settled so we could see noth¬ 
ing, but both held on to the spot. In an 
instant it cleared and the smoke from two 
more barrels shut off our view. In another 
second we saw what we had done. George 
sung out, “ After the wounded ! ” and both 
sprang out into the water, only knee deep 
at first, but gradually growing deeper. 
After a tedious chase, four of the five 
wounded were secured and the nine dead, 
making thirteen. While on our way to the 
box with the dead in hand a single Brant 
w'as seen coming. It lit among the wood¬ 
en decoys and was easily secured. Single 
birds are frequently found among the life¬ 
less decoys, and apparently with no sense 
of danger. The Brant are generally very 
shy and will not permit boats within sev¬ 
eral hundred yards. 
With every warm southerly wind new 
flocks arrive and alight among the others 
out in the bay, where long lines of them, 
and often acres, may be seen. Occasion- 
AND OOLOGIST. 
