CANADA GOOSE. 617 



countries, Dr. Richardson remarks, " is anxiously looked for, 

 and hailed with great joy by the natives of the woody and 

 swampy districts, who depend principally upon it for subsist- 

 ence during the summer. It makes its first appearance in 

 flocks of twenty or thirty, which are readily decoyed within 

 gun-shot by the hunters, who set up stuffed skins, and imi- 

 tate its call. Two or three, or more, are so frequently killed 

 at a shot, that the usual price of a Goose is a single charge of 

 ammunition. One Goose which, when fat, weighs about 

 nine pounds, is the daily ration for one of the Company's 

 servants during the season, and is reckoned equivalent to two 

 Snow Geese, or three Ducks, or eight pounds of buffalo and 

 moose meat, or two pounds of pemmican, or a pint of maize 

 and four ounces of suet. About three weeks after their first 

 appearance, the Canada Geese disperse in pairs throughout 

 the country, between the 50th and 67th parallels, to breed, 

 retiring at the same time from the shores of Hudson's Bay. 

 They are seldom or never seen on the coasts of the Arctic 

 Sea. In July, after the young birds are hatched, the parents 

 moult, and vast numbers are killed in the rivers and small 

 lakes, when they are unable to fly. When chased by a canoe 

 and obliged to dive frequently, they soon become fatigued and 

 make for the shore, with the intention of hiding themselves, 

 but as they are not fleet, they fall an easy prey to their pur- 

 suers. In the autumn they again assemble in flocks on the 

 shores of Hudson's Bay for three weeks or a month, previous 

 to their departure southwards. It has been observed, that in 

 their migration, the Geese annually resort to certain passes 

 and resting-places, some of which are frequented both in the 

 spring and autumn, and others only in spring. The Canada 

 Goose generally builds its nest on the ground, but some pairs 

 occasionally breed on the banks of the Saskatchewan in trees, 

 depositing their eggs in the deserted nests of ravens or fishing 

 eagles." 



According to Mr. Audubon, when it remains to breed in 

 the United States, it begins to form its nest in March, con- 

 structing it carefully of dry plants of various kinds, and rais- 

 ing it to the height of several inches. The eggs are generally 

 about six, the greatest number nine. They are of a very dull 



