In the month of July the old birds moult, and may 

 be seen in every river, followed by their young brood, 

 not fully feathered and incapable of flying. When 

 pursued they dive repeatedly, but are soon fatigued, 

 and make for the shore ; though, unless they reach a 

 swamp where they can hide themselves among the long 

 grass, they fall an easy prey to the hunter, who knocks 

 them on the head with a stick. A canoe is soon loaded 

 at this sport ; and I have, on several occasions, procured 

 a supper in this way for a large party in a few minutes. 

 As soon as the ground begins to harden with the 

 autumnal frosts, and one or two falls of snow have taken 

 place, the Canada goose again assembles in large flocks, 

 and wings its way to the southward. In their flights 

 the geese generally take advantage of a favourable gale; 

 and when their cry is heard in the night high in the 

 air, as they hasten before the wind to warmer latitudes, 

 cold weather is sure to follow. There are certain spots 

 or passes which the geese always visit on their migra- 

 tions ; but they do not frequent the same places in 

 equal numbers in the spring and fall. In the former 

 season they make considerable halts on lakes of the 

 interior, which they pass over on their return, showing 

 a preference in the autumn to the swampy shores of 

 Hudson's Bay, where they linger after the inland waters 

 are covered with ice. 



The first appearance of the Canada goose in the spring 

 at a fur post infuses life into the whole establishment. 

 Every gun is put in order ; and as soon as the wedge- 



