302 WILD FOWL SHOOTING. 
waived his hat in the air, as much as to say, “ I-yi-yi 
tu-tu-told you so.” ‘There was then a steady flight, not 
frequent, but of regular intervals for two hours, and we 
had splendid shooting, having killed 21 or 22 during” 
the day. 
Most ornithologists ascribe to Canada geese too little 
weight. While it is true some weigh six and seven 
pounds only, others go much higher, and we weighed 
12 of the largest of the geese we killed, and found 
they averaged over 11 Ibs. each. 
What they call in Nebraska “ Hutchin’s geese,” are 
exactly like the Canadas, but weigh six to eight pounds ; 
they are more plenty than their larger cousins, and are 
killed in greater numbers. 
The following morning at break of day, indeed before 
that time, we were in our * pits ” in an old corn field— 
a bitter cold morning, 6° below zero. We had excellent 
sport, and the heavy thud of the dead geese was very 
exhilarating. We needed something to warm us up, 
and—really, I have forgotten whether or not Nebraska 
is a prohibition State. Yes, I think it is; anyway, the 
falling of the geese warmed us up. During the after- 
noon we had a practical illustration of what a ‘* fool 
of a goose” is. One came over our blind, sailed and 
circled around, apparently afraid to come to the decoys. 
At last he came over, way up where it would have 
been an accident to have killed him. Both barrels 
were fired at him, and he flew off unhurt. There 
being no others moving, we watched him. He went 
on and on for fully a mile, then came back, set his 
wings, sailed in over the decoys, and would have lit, 
had he not been killed within twenty yards of us. Dur- 
ing the day we killed 23, mostly Canadas. 
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