GREY-GEESE 345 



impracticable, or inaccessible nature of their chosen haunts, 

 and the resulting impossibility of obtaining - a sufficient 

 number of specimens at different periods, that leaves us so 

 much in the dark as regards their specific distribution. 



These remarks are undoubtedly at variance with the 

 very confident and positive assertions of other writers on 

 this subject ; but they rest on experience, which always 

 leads one to sift questions for oneself, and not to accept 

 statements as facts merely because they are in print. In 

 this study it is of the first importance to discriminate 

 between the grain and the chaff of ornithological literature. 

 Many writers have drawn conclusions from grounds which 

 are far too slight, or inconclusive : while others (lacking 

 personal experience) perpetuate error by simply tran- 

 scribing the mistakes of their predecessors, or create a 

 fresh set by substituting for missing facts a mere maze of 

 guesswork. Such devices may serve the purpose of 

 making their writers 1 books appear more "complete" ; but 

 it is infinitely preferable to be honest, to admit deficiencies 

 in knowledge, and to indicate the points which remain in 

 doubt. Those whose knowledge is the most complete will 

 be the first to acknowledge the justice of these remarks. 



Well, leaving for the present the doubtful ground of 

 specific identity, the ordinary life-habits of the grey-goose 

 group are more easily diagnosed. They are among the 

 earlier arrivals of our winter wildfowl. The middle of October 

 is about the average date at which the geese arrive in bulk ; 

 but the vanguard frequently appears in September, and 

 exceptional occurrences even earlier. October is, however, 

 the month when their V-shaped skeins are most often seen 

 crossing the skies — each pack bound direct to some definite 

 point, some resort they have perhaps frequented for 

 centuries. We will accompany one of these skeins and 



