WILD GEESE. 255 



try. The Canada goose, like the other species, has been 

 ignored as a iarm-yard pet, notwithstanding its fine form 

 and the fact that it can be readily domesticated, and will 

 breed in confinement, or pair with its barn-yard con- 

 geners. The cross obtained by this admixture is consid- 

 ered to be superior to either of its progenitors, as it has 

 the plumpness and delicacy of the tame species, the flavor 

 of the wild, and is hardier than either. The young of 

 the Canada goose do not, it is said, lay any eggs in a 

 state of domestication until they are three years old, and 

 then they lay four or five ; but after that time the num- 

 ber increases gradually until it reaches the limit allowed 

 by nature. There are two varieties of this I)rant, which 

 difEer from the typical species in a few minor details. The 

 Hutchins variety is almost a perfect copy of the Can- 

 ada goose, except that it is smaller, being only about 

 thirty inches in length, and that its tail is composed of 

 sixteen feathers. The other variety — B. canadensis var. 

 leucopareia — differs only in having the black hue of the 

 neck banded below by a white collar, and having the 

 under parts darker, so that it is well defined against the 

 white of the tail coverts and the lower portion of the neck. 

 The geese described include eight S23ecies and four varie- 

 ties. These may be readily distinguished from the swans 

 by the strip of feathered skin between their eyes and bills, 

 and from the ducks by their tarsi, which are entirely 

 reticulate. 



It is such an easy matter to make a big bag of 

 geese in the West during the autumn, and in the 

 Southwest in winter, that the veriest tyro may become 

 a great wild-fowler in a short time, if a large bag is 

 to be the criterion of his skill; but where they are scarce 

 and hunted much, it requires all the iiatience, caution, 

 cunning, and devices of the most experienced sportsman 

 to steal upon them unawares, or to decoy them within 

 range of a gun. They learn to avoid blinds, " gopher- 



