^°^mo^^^^] Phillips, Autumn Migration of the Canada Goose. 263 



NOTES ON THE AUTUMN MIGRATION OF THE 

 CANADA GOOSE IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS. 



BY J. C. PHILLIPS. 



The Canada goose presents a comparatively easy mark for 

 migratory study, and the notes which follow are based on data 

 from the following sources: 



First. Ten years continuous observations at a stand on Wenham 

 Lake from about September 20 to about November 20, some years 

 well into December. 



Second. Five years continuous observation at Oldham Pond, 

 Pembroke, from before October 1 to December 23-27. 



Third. Record of first geese shot and totals of stand at the 

 Island Oldham, 1876 to 1897. Scores at Baker's camp, Oldham, 

 1896 to 1904. 



Fourth. Goose killings at a large number of gunning camps 

 from all along the flight-belt. It may be here stated that these 

 totals can be accepted as accurate, because, there being intense 

 rivalry among the stands, the result of almost every shot is seen or 

 heard among the neighbors, thus rendering exaggeration nearly 

 impossible. 



Daily Records. — The method of recording data at Wenham and 

 Oldham Camps has been as follows: 



At the end of each day the weather is briefly recorded, with the 

 number and species of all fowl seen flying, and of all which lit in 

 pond, together with those shot and details of shooting. Watch is 

 supposed to be continuous, but is necessarily interrupted for meals, 

 camp work, etc. Watch is usually kept on moonlight nights during 

 flight-time for at least the first part of the night. 



Scope of Notes. — In the notes that follow, I have attempted to 

 gain a more accurate idea of the time, direction, volume and width 

 of the autumn coastal flight. 



General. — I have had a chance to study the geese in August, in 

 James Bay, where the young families were beginning to arrive on 

 the great marshes from the inland muskegs and ponds; and the 

 flocks were mainly composed of separate families of from five to 

 eight birds. 



