'JAZ MackaY o» ' Fire-lighthtg.' |October 



Geese. They did not appear afraid or suspicious, but acted in 

 the most natural manner possible. One preened its feathers, 

 another rubbed the side of its head on its back, another dipped 

 its bill in the water, of which there was a depth of about three or 

 four inches on the bar, on which they were standing. The rays 

 of the lantern covered the flock, while outside of its limits all 

 was inky darkness. Not the slightest curiosity or uneasiness was 

 evinced by them on the approach of the light. The boat mean- 

 while approached too near, being within fifteen yards of them, 

 and although they were not standing close together, we were 

 now obliged to tire. Confusion followed the reports ; but it was 

 soon still. Those that could do so flew away, leaving seven 

 dead. That we could have gone into their very midst, seems 

 probable. 



Leaving this locality we headed out from shore in search of a 

 large flock of Brant which we had heard when on our way to the 

 Geese. We had no difficulty in finding them, but could not get 

 near enough to see them although we chased them for a long- 

 distance by their calls, being quite near them at times. These 

 birds swim faster than the boat can be propelled, and I am told 

 are as a rule difiicult to appi-oach. Having decided to return, we 

 were silently moving along the edge of the marsh, sweeping the 

 water adjacent to the shore with our light, when a pair of Black 

 Ducks were observed, feeding and paddling in the rays of the lan- 

 tern. They were perfectly unconcerned, and although the boat- 

 man was standing up, they could neither see nor hear anything. 

 They would turn around and lower their heads to the water. 1 

 saw no signs of fear or curiosity, and they showed no particular 

 interest in the light. I finally perceived a slight uneasiness, and 

 as we approached nearer they commenced to swim away with 

 their heads up, apparently with a suspicion that all was not as it 

 should be. I think they may have heard us whispering, still 

 they made no attempt to fly until we fired at them from a dis- 

 tance of not over a dozen or fifteen yards. 



Several years after I tried an experiment to see how near I 

 could walk up to a flock of Common Terns {^Sterfia Jiir7indo) 

 with an ordinary hand lantern. They were roosting on the 

 beach. I found I could approach to within about three or four 

 yards of some of them, when they would fly a little way and 

 alight again. This was the result after several trials. I think the 



