Zoological Explorations. 261 



natives know them as '■'■xuavcys^'' and do not consider them as 

 geese at all, reserving the latter name for the Canada goose. 



Branta canadensis (Linn.). Canada Goose. Abund- 

 ant. Breeding in Cedar Lake, and also above Chemawawin 

 on some extensive flats. The broods of immature birds take 

 to the water when pursued, and dive with great skill and per- 

 sistence. I pursued one in a canoe with two Indians, and it 

 gave us a lively chase, finally coming up within a few feet of 

 the canoe, when its head was blown off with a rifle, my only 

 weapon at the time. 



Olor 5^. (?) Szvan. Common during migrations. I 

 could not distinguish the species from the description of the 

 natives. 



Order HERODIONES. Herons, etc. 



Family ardeid.e. Herons. 



Botaurus lentiginosus (Montag.). American Bittern. 

 A single specimen seen but not secured. No other heron 

 was seen, nor could I find that the natives had any knowledge 

 of them. I was never more deceived than by the stake-like 

 appearance of this bird, as it stood erect by the rushes as we 

 paddled by, after which it flew up with its sudden '■'- qna-ak^'' 

 causing me to nearly overturn the canoe in my efforts to 

 cover it with my gun.^ On another occasion, I saw one 

 standing in the same position, and determined not to be be- 

 fooled again, I motioned to my companion, an old Indian hun- 

 ter, to paddle noiselessly toward it. I noticed a grin of what 

 I took to be satisfaction on his not particularly handsome 

 countenance as I carefully got my bird covered, and pulled 

 the trigger. When the smoke cleared away, the bird had 



1 " When alarmed, the bittern, instead of rising, frequently erects its head 

 and neck and depresses its tail between its legs, until the whole body is almost 

 vertical, and so stands perfectly still until the danger is past." (Nash) Thomp- 

 son — Birds of Manitoba, page 4S9. 



