6o DUCK SHOOTING. 



The tail feathers are 14 to 16; the length of the bird is 

 about 24 inches; wing about 14 inches. The coloring 

 is almost exactly that of the western goose. 



Of these four forms, the Canada goose is the only 

 one of general distribution throughout North America. 

 It is found from the Arctic Ocean to the Gulf of Mex- 

 ico, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific; and during 

 the migrations is abundant in New England, as well as 

 over the more sparsely settled parts of the country. On 

 the Pacific coast it is less common than the western 

 goose, but inland it is found in numbers. 



The common wild goose is an early migrant, and 

 often passes North while the waters are still sealed in 

 their icy fetters. Soon after its arrival in the North, 

 however, the water becomes open, and the birds mate 

 and separate to select their summer homes. The six or 

 eight eggs are laid in nests, sometimes in the marshes, 

 sometimes on higher land, not far from water, and 

 again on the broken-off stubs of trees, or even in a nest 

 among the branches, high above the ground. The eggs 

 are ivory white, and are carefully brooded by the 

 mother bird. Early in June the young are hatched and 

 taken to the water. Usually they are accompanied by 

 both parents, and at this time, if danger approaches, 

 they follow the mother in a long line, imitating her 

 movements, sinking lower and lower in the water as 

 she sinks in her attempt to hide, and finally diving and 

 scattering under the water when she dives. Soon after 

 the young birds appear the old ones begin to molt, and 



