168 BULLETIN 130, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



"composed of individuals of three species (Chen hyperborea, Branta cana- 

 densis hutchinsii, and Anser albifrons gambelli), each plainly distinguishable 

 by its plumage, but each holding its place in the geometrical figure as though 

 it was composed of entirely homogeneous material, perhaps an equal number 

 of the darker speecies, with three, four or more snow-white geese fljing 

 together somewhere in the converging lines." 



At Moses Lake and again on the Columbia River I have seen a single snow 

 goose attach itself to a company of resident Canadas — in each case through 

 several days' observation — appearing now alone and now in company with 

 the larger birds. A specimen taken May 9, 1907, at Wallula was with three 

 Canada geese (one pair and a presumed "auntie"), and these were very 

 reluctant to leave their fallen companion. 



Fall. — On the fall migration, when the ^'ast hordes of snow geese 

 begin to wing their way southward from their Arctic summer homes, 

 we begin to realize the astounding abundance of the species. George 

 Barnston (1862), of the Hudson's Bay Co., writes: 



The snow goose, although it plays a less conspicuous part in the interior of 

 the country, where it seldom alights, except along the margin of the larger 

 lakes and streams, becomes, from its consolidated numbers, the first and great- 

 est object of sport after the flocks alight in James Bay. The havoc spread 

 throughout their ranks increases as the season advances and their crowds 

 thicken, and even the Indian becomes fatigued with the trade of killing. In 

 the fall of the year, when the flocks of young " wewais," or " wavies," as they 

 are called, are numerous and on the wing between the low-tide mark and the 

 marshes or are following the line of coast southerly, it is no uncommon occur- 

 rence for a good shot, between sunrise and sunset, to send to his lodge about 

 100 head of game. 



These " wavies," or white geese, form the staple article of food as rations to 

 the men in James Bay and are the latest in leaving the coast for southern 

 climes, an event which takes place toward the end of the month of September, 

 although some weak broods and wounded birds linger behind until the first or 

 second week in October. They are deliberate and judicious in their prepara- 

 tion for their great flight southward and make their arrangements in a very 

 businesslike manner. Leaving off feeding in the swamps for a day or more, 

 they keep out with the retreating ebb tide, retiring, unwillingly as it were, by 

 steps at its flow, continually occupied in adjusting their feathers, smoothing 

 and dressing them with their fatty oil, as athletes might for the ring or race. 

 After this necessary preparation the flocks are ready to take advantage of the 

 first north or northwest wind that blows, and when that sets in in less than 

 24 hours the coast that has l)een covered patchlike by their whitened squadrons 

 and widely resonant with their petulant and incessant calls is silent as the 

 grave — a deserted, barren, and frozen shore. 



J. E. Forster (1772). the naturalist, who sailed with Captain 

 Cook in this region, says : 



The Indians have a peculiar method of killing all these species of geese, 

 and likewise swans. As these birds fly regularly along the marshes, the In- 

 dians range themselves in a line across the marsh, from the wood to high- 

 water mark, about musket shot from each other, so as to be sure of intercept- 

 ing any geese which fly that way. Each person conceals himself, by putting 



