of the Hudson^ s Bay Territories. 341 



becomes, from its consolidated numbers, tbe first and greatest 

 object of sport after the flocks alight in James's Bay. The 

 bavock spread throughout their ranks increases as the season ad- 

 vances, and their crowds thicken,, and even tbe Indian becomes 

 fatigued with the trade of killing. In the fall of tbe year, when 

 tbe flocks of young " wewais" or wavies as they are called are 

 numerous and on tbe wing between tbe low tide mark and the 

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

 mon occurrence for a good shot,between sunrise and sunset,to send to 

 bis lodge above a hundred bead of game. In such cases tbe hunter 

 is stationed in what is called a stand — a space from four to five feet 

 square,enclosed by willow twigs and long grass stalks — from which 

 be fires, with forms of geese or " decoys " set up a short distance in 

 bis front. The geese fly towards these, when be gives out their 

 peculiar call, and frequently be has bis wife or son, or grown- 

 up daughter, to load tbe discharged gun for him, while be fires 

 with the loaded. 



These wavies or white geese form tbe staple article of food, as 

 rations to the men in James's Bay, and are the latest in leaving 

 the coast for southern climes — an event which takes place towards 

 tbe 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 preparation 

 for their great flight southwards, and make their arrangements in 

 a very business-like 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 

 themselves 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 north-west wind that blows, 

 and when that sets-in, in less than 24 hours the coast that bad been 

 covered patch-like by their whitened squadrons, and wildly reso- 

 nant with their petulant and incessant calls, is silent as tbe grave 

 — a deserted, barren, and frozen shore. 



The friendly intercourse that exists between these geese and 

 the blue wavies, (^Anser or Chen coerulescens) has induced some 

 to suppose that they were merely varieties, which is a mistake. 

 Tbe young white wavies arrive from the north with their parents 

 without mixture of other geese, and they have nearly the same 

 white garb as the old birds, but with their heads of a dirty red- 



