BiKDS OF Indiana. 637 



becomes the most notable oi' tlie early bird movements, and they are 

 harbingers of spring. Their coming and going is the wonder of all 

 who behold them, and the impression they make upon the yoiing mind 

 is lasting. 



They continue the spring migration through March, u] id usually 

 have passed the southern part of the State b}^ the middle of that 

 montli, though Mr. E. J. Chansler has noted them as late as April 2 

 (1897). In the vicinity of Lake Michigan they often continue abund- 

 ant up to that date. They are so rei)orte(l April 2, 1893, at Kouts, 

 Ind., and common i\.pril 2, 1885. (Parker.) About this time, how- 

 ever, the migrants leave, and only those wlio remain to breed are 

 found. In years gone by many more bred with us than do now. 



Thirty years ago it was not uncommon to find upon the upknid 

 meadows of Franklin aiid other southern t'ounties. wlu're great flocks 

 of these geese had stop])ed during tlic ^larcli inii^rations, numbers of 

 eg<X:< That. had l)een (lro|)])ed Ity theni. 



Thvy still hreed in so)ne nunihcrs in the Kankakee region and 

 less frequently in other favorable h)calities, notably Dckall) Coinrty 

 .(J. 0. Snyxler)," Steuben County, at Twin Lakes of the Wood (Mrs. 

 J. L. Hine), Laporte County (C. L. ISai-ber). They e\idently begin 

 nesting between April 15 and May 1, as nests with the full comple- 

 ment of eggs are usually found from the first to tliird week in IMay. 



Hiese geese are often (lomesticate(k In our State the farmers in some 

 localities where tliey breed, get the eggs and liatch tlu'ni undei' a hen. 

 j\Ir. L. T. Meyer informs me of one fannei' in Lake County who found 

 a nest containing six eggs, ))uilt upon a muskrat lu)use. He took the 

 egiis. and the hen under wliicli he set them hatched four goslings. 

 These he kept foi- a numbci- of years, and they bred every year. In 

 this connection I desire to refer to an account of domesticated Canada 

 rieese by ^Ir. Win. Dutclier. in the .\uk, -lanunry. 1S,S5. ]>. 111. The 

 notes are given from the exi)erience of Capt. I^ane, of Shinnecock Bay, 

 Long Island, and from these 1 quote the following concerning their 

 breeding habits: '"They make their nests of di'ied grass, raising them 

 al)Out twelve inches from the ground. They feather them when theybe- 

 gin to lay, which is about May 1. Xone lay until three years old. The 

 first season four eggs are laid, five the second, and when older, six 

 or seven. A goose never has more than one mate, but while the goose 

 is sitting the gander never leaves her, though he never sits on the nest. 

 The time of incubation is four weeks. The young when batched are 

 strong enough to take care of themselves; that is, they eat grass and 

 walk and swim as soon as they get dry. They will eat meal on the 



