LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN WILD FOW]> 177 



Food. — The food and the feeding habits of the greater snow goose 

 jire very much like those of its western relative. It has less oppor- 

 tunity, in the Eastern States, to feed in grain and stubble fields, 

 as such cultivated areas are scarcer and more restricted. Perhaps 

 for this reason these geese seem to be more often seen on the seacoast 

 marshes and beaches in the East than they are in the West. Mr. 

 Elisha J. Lewis (1885) the veteran sportsman, writes: 



Snow geese are numerous on the coast of Jersey and in the Delaware Bay. 

 They frequent the marshes and reedy shores to feed upon the roots of various 

 marine plants — more particularly that called sea cabbage. Their bills being 

 very strong and well supplied with powerful teeth, they pull up with great 

 facility the roots of sedge and all other plants. 



Harold H, Bailey tells me that on the coast of Virginia they come 

 into the hollows on the sandy beaches to pull up the beach grass and 

 other scanty sand-dune plants to feed on the roots; they do not 

 come into the fresh-water bays with the Canada geese to feed on the 

 fox-tail gi-ass. 



Behavior. — Audubon (1840) writes: 



The flight of this species is strong and steady, and its migrations over the 

 United States are performed at a considerable elevation, by regular flappings 

 of the wings, and a disposition into lines similar to that of other geese. It 

 walks well, and with rather elevated steps; but on land its appearance is not 

 so graceful as that of our common Canada goose. Whilst with us they are 

 much more silent than any other of our species, rarely emitting any cries 

 unless when pursued on being wounded. They swim buoyantly, and when 

 pressed, with speed. When attacked by the white-headed eagle, or any other 

 rapacious bird, they dive well for a short space. At the least appearance of 

 danger, when they are on land, they at once come close together, shake their 

 heads and necks, move off in a contrary direction, very soon take to wing, and 

 fly to a considerable distance, but often return after a time. 



Winter. — Eegarding itg winter habits Doctor Elliot (1898) says: 



On the northern portion of the Atlantic coast the snow goose can not be 

 said to be common, and in many parts is seldom seen. Small flocks are oc- 

 casionally met with on the waters of Long Island, but the species becomes 

 more abundant on the shores of New Jersey and the coasts of Virginia and 

 North Carolina, where, in the latter State in the vicinity of Cape Hatteras 

 and along the beaches and inlets of Albemarle Sound, it sometimes congre- 

 gates in great multitudes. Occasionally flocks of considerable size may be 

 seen on the inner beach of Currituck Sound where the water is brackish, but 

 the birds do not remain any length of time in such situations. They present 

 a beautiful sight as they stand in long lines upon the beach, their pure, im- 

 maculate plumage shining like snow in the sun, against the black mud of the 

 marshes or the dingy hues of the shore. It is very difficult to approach them 

 at such times, as they are exceedingly watchful and wary, but occasionally a 

 few may leave the main body and, if flying by, will draw perhaps sufliciently 

 near to geese decoys or live geese tied out in front of a blind to afford an 

 opportunity for a shot. The chances are better, however, for the sportsman 



