36 WATER FOWL. 



curved line, not nearly so angular as the V-shaped ranks 

 of the Canada and other Geese. With their snowy forms 

 moving steadily along in the calm air, the outstretched 

 wings tipped with black, glowing in the sun's rays with 

 the faint blush of the rose, they present a most beautiful 

 sight. Usually they fly silently with hardly a perceptible 

 movement of the pinions, high above 



". . . the landscape lying so far below 

 With its towns and rivers and desert places, 

 And the splendor of light above, and the glow 

 Of the limitless blue ethereal spaces." 



Occasionally, however, a solitary note like a softened 

 Honk is borne from out the sky to the ear of the 

 watcher beneath. Should they perceive a place that at- 

 tracts them they begin to lower, at first gradually, sail- 

 ing along on motionless wings until near the desired 

 spot, and then descend rapidly in zigzag lines until the 

 ground or water is almost reached, when with a few 

 quick flaps they gently alight. It is difBcult to get close 

 to them, as they are very watchful, and if they become 

 suspicious an alarm is sounded and the flock betakes 

 itself to some other locality. Sometimes, in passing from 

 one place to another, they fly low enough to give the con- 

 cealed gunner a chance for a successful shot, but I have 

 never known them to decoy at all well, and the majority 

 of those procured are birds passing to and from their 

 feeding grounds. 



As an article of food I have never held this bird in any 

 great esteem, for if it was tender it had very little flavor, 

 and if the latter was clearly perceptible it was generally 

 of that kind one w^ould prefer to have absent. When 

 this Goose first arrives it is very apt to be lean, having, 

 had but little time on its long journey to stop and feed 



