THE CANADA GOOSE 265 



times of peace they are nearly as graceful as 

 the swan. As to their intellect — let their de- 

 tractors try to get within killing distance and 

 see for themselves who is the smarter. 



Many are shot from blinds in the fresh water 

 ponds with live decoys anchored along the 

 shores, — some old wing-tipped veterans whose 

 wounds have been cured and the birds more 

 than half domesticated for this purpose. They 

 take very kindly to civilised ways and tame in 

 a wonderfully short time. After a week of cap- 

 tivity the wildest goose will become so tame 

 that it will almost have to be kicked from under 

 foot in the yards. When left to their own de- 

 vices and not too much assisted in their house- 

 keeping affairs they breed readily in their new 

 surroundings. Most of the decoys for the 

 shooting are thus obtained. Very rarely a bird 

 tamed to the semi-domestic state is influenced 

 by the migratory instinct to depart with its 

 wild kindred. But perhaps more would be lost 

 from this cause if they were not in most cases 

 ' 'pinioned." 



Not a goose can fly over the horizon that 

 these decoys do not see, and the gander will try 

 his most alluring arts and most enticing music 



