THE CANADA GOOSE 267 



The whole continent of North America is the 

 home of the Canada Goose. It breeds in any 

 suitable place from the Middle States north- 

 ward to the islands of the Arctic seas, but the 

 greater number build their nests in the Sas- 

 katchewan country and thence north to the limit 

 of the Canadian forests. The interior of Lab- 

 rador, too, has its breeding myriads, where one 

 friend tells me, "I have seen all the Geese in 

 the world in one flock !" Among New Eng- 

 land's more remote and unfrequented lakes, 

 particularly those among the Maine woods, this 

 Goose occasionally raises its family. Nests are 

 usually upon the ground, though there have 

 been instances where they have built in trees, 

 taking possession of deserted nests of hawks 

 or other large birds, and presumably have 

 transported their clumsy babies to the water in 

 their beaks, after the manner of the wood duck. 

 The complement of eggs varies from five to 

 eight, usually the smaller number, grayish 

 green in color, and about three and one-half 

 inches long. 



This species is the most common and widely 

 dispersed of our geese, and a fine looking fellow 

 is the gander in his spring suit, despite the 



