CANADA GOOSE. 



'"pHE common Wild Goose is distributed generally 

 throughout North America from the Arctic Sea to 

 the Gulf of Mexico, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific 

 Ocean, breeding as far south as Colorado, near lakes at 

 high elevations. No species of our Wild Fowl is better 

 known, nor its advent within our borders more eagerly 

 anticipated. It breeds in many parts of the northern 

 United States, and thence northward throughout the 

 Arctic Regions, chiefly, however, to the east of the moun- 

 tains. In Alaska it is rare upon the coast, though it is 

 met with along the Yukon River, but is supplanted in 

 that Territory by several allied though smaller species. 

 It has been found nesting by Richardson on the lower 

 Anderson River, but he says it does not go to the coast. 

 It seems to prefer the interior of the country during the 

 breeding season, selecting wooded and swampy districts, 

 and apparently at that time avoids the neighborhood of 

 the ocean. Its arrival in the northern latitudes from 

 the South is always hailed with joy by the inhabitants 

 of those cheerless regions, as they depend largely upon 

 these birds for their means of subsistence. It is among 

 the first of the Wild Fowl to appear in the spring, and 

 soon begins to prepare for its matrimonial duties. 



In about three weeks after their arrival the birds have 

 selected their mates, and are dispersed throughout the 

 country, choosing sites for the nests in secluded places 

 in the vicinity of quiet water, and where the cover of 

 grass or plants is sufBcient for concealment. The nest is 



