CANADA GOOSE. ~- 351 



of March, (1810,) many wild Geese were nesting in the 

 Shave-rush* bottoms of the Missouri, no farther up than 

 Fire prairie, considerably below the junction of the river 

 Platte; so that the breeding range of the Canada Goose, 

 probably extends through not less than 30 degrees of latitude. 

 In July, it appears, after the young birds are hatched, in the 

 fur countries, the parents moult, and advantage being then 

 taken of their helplessness, vast numbers are killed in the 

 rivers and small lakes when thus disabled from flight. At 

 such times, when chased by a canoe, and frequently obliged 

 to dive, they soon become fatigued, and making for the 

 shore in order to hide, are quickly overtaken, and fall an 

 easy prey to their pursuers. 



Attached to particular places of resort at the period of 

 migration, the Geese, in autumn, instinctively advertised 

 of the approaching winter, and of the famine which to them 

 necessarily attends in its train, are again seen to assemble 

 on the sea coast, courting the mildness of its temperature, 

 and its open waters, which seem to defy the access of frost. 

 They thus continue to glean the marshes along the shores, till 

 the increasing severity of the weather urges them to a bolder 

 and more determined flight from the threatening dangers of 

 their situation. They now, in vast array, begin to leave the 

 freezing shores of Hudson's Bay. Like the rest of their gab- 

 bling and sagacious tribe, at the call of their momentary 

 elected leader, they ascend the skies, wheeling round, as if 

 to take a final leave of their natal shores, and sensible to the 

 breeze, arranged in long converging lines, ( > ) they survey 

 their azure route, and instinctively follow the cheering path of 

 the mid-day sun, whose feeble gleams alone ofler them the 

 hope of arriving in some more genial clime. The leader, 

 ambitious of his temporary station, utters the cheering and 



* Eqvisetum hiemale, there commonly termed Rushes. 



