GEESE. 393 



flight is strong, and they make rapid progress during their mi- 

 gratory journeys, as they can move at the rate of fifty or sixty 

 miles an hour. In these flights they advance in a diagonal line, 

 or in two lines, meeting in a point like the letter V. They breed 

 in the marshy districts of the countries to which they retire during 

 the summer months, laying several eggs of a white or sullied white 

 colour. 



Many schemes are had recourse to in the north of Europe to 

 capture wild geese. In Lapland they are taken during the spring 



in steel traps. These are set near to natural openings in the ice, 

 where the birds are known to resort, and baited with the roots of 

 the river horse-tail {Equisdum fliiviatilc), or of the Ranwicnhis 

 aqiiatilis. When feeding in stubble-fields or elsewhere, wild geese 

 are also not unfrequently shot with the assistance of a stalking- 

 horse ; and if the animal be well trained, great execution may 

 thus at times be done. But in lieu of a steed, a so-called Skjut-Ko, 

 or shooting-cow, is made use of. This apparatus, M. Grieff tells us, 

 " is composed of strong canvas, in the form of a cow, and painted 

 brown. For its easier transport, it is rolled up, and when used, is 

 distended by means of several sticks. One of these is placed 



