THE CANADA aO^SB. ilx 



while the absence of their great destroyer, »-^^ -iuk the 

 iplendours of a perpetual day, may render iktbh. r^oiui thi 

 most suitable for their purpose. 



Having fulfilled the great law of nature, the approaching 

 rigours of that dreary climate oblige tlkcse yast, congre- 

 gated flocks to steer for the more gonial regions of the 

 south. And no sooner do they arrive at those countries of 

 the earth inhabited by man, than ctraage and slaughter is 

 coDLmenced on their ranks. The English at Hudson's Bay, 

 sa/s Pennant, depend greatly on Geese, and in favourable 

 J ears, kill three or four thousana, and barrel them up for 

 use. They send out their servants, as well as Indians, ta 

 ihoot these birds on their pacsage. It is in vain to pursue 

 them ; they therefore form » row of huts, made of boughs, 

 at musket-shot distance from each other, and place them in 

 a line across the vast marshes of the country. Each stand, 

 or hovel, as it is called, is occupied by only a single person > 

 These attend the flight of the birds, and, on their approach, 

 mimic their cackle bo well that the Geese will answer, and 

 wheel, and come newer the stand. The sportsman keeps 

 motionless, and on his knees, with his gun cocked the whole 

 time, and never fires till he has seen the eyes of the Geese. 

 He fires as they are going from him ; then picks up an- 

 other gun thtt liea by him and discharges that. The Geese 

 which ho Lm killed he sets upon sticks, &8 if alive, to 

 decoy othe\d ; he also makes artificial birds for the sam» 

 purpoie. 



