BIRDS OP MASSACHUSETTS. 385 



have far to go ; but when doubtful of the season, they fly- 

 lower, and are often bewildered in fogs and snow storms, so as 

 to come to the ground stupified, and to submit quietly to their 

 fate. They are so much alive to changes of temperature, that, 

 when they are seen returning over their line of march, it indi- 

 cates that a change of weather is nigh. 



When they alight in some place where they intend to pass 

 the night, they crop the grass sidewise, like the domestic 

 goose, or pat the ground with both feet to force the worms out 

 of it. Sometimes they alight in corn-fields, where they do 

 considerable damage ; sometimes in the water, where they 

 plunge their heads to the bottom in search of food. They al- 

 ways keep sentinels stationed, who, at the approach of cattle, 

 are silent ; but if a bear, or panther, or worse than all, a man 

 comes nigh, the alarm is given, and all glide into the nearest 

 water and swim to a distance from the shore. Their sense of 

 hearing is wonderfully quick and discerning ; they can at once 

 distinguish a sound made by man. 



The crossing of the breed of the wild with the tame goose, 

 as in the case of the turkey, has been attended with much ad- 

 vantage ; the hybrid being larger and more easily fattened, 

 brings a higher price than either of the species from which it 

 is descended. The difficulty in the way of keeping the Cana- 

 da goose, is. that it does not multiply as in the wild state ; but, 

 though it requires time to effect a considerable change in its 

 habits, a persevering attempt at domestication would probably 

 succeed. In some cases, it has succeeded already ; but when 

 flocks are passing over, it answers their call, and seems strong- 

 ly tempted to return to the savage state. 



The Barnacle Goose, Anser leucopsis, is said by the gun- 

 ners on the coast, to be shot in this State. Audubon never 

 met with it. Nuttall speaks of it as a straggler on our coast. 



Hutchins' Goose, Anser Hutchinsii, is inserted on the same 

 authority. They call it the Flight, or Winter Goose. It re- 

 sembles the common wild goose, except that it is less in size. 

 49 



