LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN WILD FOWL 193 



fields, heading a direct course for the open water of some lake. With heads 

 thrust far forward, these flying projectiles go through space with enviable 

 ease of motion. Because they are large and fly high, they appear to move 

 slowly; whereas the truth is that all geese, when once fairly launched, fly 

 rapidly, which becomes evident enough when they whiz by us at close range. 

 It is only when rising against the wind and making a start that their flight 

 is actually slow and difficult. When migrating, they often trail across the 

 clouds like dots, so high do they go — sometimes a thousand feet or more, it is 

 said — as if they spurned the earth. But as a matter of fact they spend a 

 great part of their lives on land ; far more than any of the ducks. 



On reaching a point above the water when returning from the feeding 

 grounds the long defile closes up into a mass. The geese now break ranks, 

 and each for itself goes wheeling about, cackling constantly, as they sail on 

 stiff, set wings; or, diving, tumbling, turning somersaults downard, and catch- 

 ing themselves before they strike the water, form an orderly array again, 

 and fly silently, close along the surface quite a distance before finally settling 

 down upon it softly to rest. 



The peculiar laughing cry of this bird has given it the name of 

 " laughing goose." Its cries are said to be loud and harsh, sounding 

 like the syllable wah rapidly repeated; the Hote is easily imitated 

 by striking the mouth with the hand while rapidly uttering the 

 above sound. 



The following, taken from Mr. Ma;cFarlane's unpublished notes, 

 illustrates the methods employed by the natives to capture these and 

 other geese during the flightless molting season : 



On 12th July we observed about 30 geese {Anser gamyelti) on the edge of 

 a small lake (in the water) in the Barren Grounds; they were all ganders, 

 and molting. On our approach they went sailing (swimming) across the 

 lake, which was about 2 miles in extent. Our party then divided — half tak- 

 ing one side, and half the other side of the lake — and by the time we reached 

 the spot where the geese had quitted the water, they had all concealed them- 

 selves as well as the scant grass and low tangled willows in the vicinity would 

 admit. After we discovered their whereabouts there was some sport and a 

 lively chase after them, and we soon succeeded in securing 27 out of the 30 — 

 the remaining 3 having escaped beyond our reach, although followed for some 

 distance into the water. They were all in good condition, in fact, gray wavies 

 are always fat and excellent eating, while it is but seldom in spring and 

 never in summer that a really good Canada goose is met with. The Indians 

 inform me that when they observe a flock of swans or geese on a lake, dur- 

 ing the molting season, they at once make a fire on the shore, and they state 

 that this course on their part never fails to drive the geese, etc., on land, 

 where mo^t of them easily fall a prey to the hunter. If they were only 

 wise enough to remain in the water at a proper distance they would be safe 

 enough. 



Fall. — The white-fronted goose does not start to migrate until 

 driven south by cold weather. Doctor Nelson (1887) says: 



All through September, old and young, which have been on the wing since 

 August, gather in larger flocks, and as the sharp frosts toward the end of 

 September warn them of approaching winter, commence moving south. 



