198 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 



of the wild goose (A. Canadensis). Geese arrive in the 

 end of March and remain about a month. Again on their 

 southern migration they arelooked for early in September, 

 and they remain on the coast until their feeding grounds 

 are all frozen up, viz. about the middle of December. 

 Good bags are sometimes made in the spring, but few 

 are shot in the fall, although they are to be seen in 

 thousands. 



The brant goose (A. Bernicla) is even more numerous on 

 the coast than the Canadian goose, frequenting the same 

 haunts, and resembling the latter bird in its habits. They, 

 however, differ in one or two essential points, viz. that, 

 whereas the Canada goose cannot get on without fresh 

 water, the brant never leave the salt water; and their 

 dislike to land is so great that, sooner than cross an island 

 or promontory in their flight, they will fly miles and miles 

 out of their way to avoid it. Their favourite haunts are 

 shallow bays and flat muddy shores. Notwithstanding 

 their salt-water diet, they are capital eating, and very 

 much superior in that respect to the bernicle, which in 

 other points they resemble. As wild fowl go, they are 

 easily killed, and do not require as much shot as some of 

 the ducks. In stormy weather and high tides, when 

 driven from their usual feeding ground, they afford capital 

 sport to the gunner, who lies hid on a point or promontory 

 in line of their flight. The locality of this hide is fixed 

 upon by watching the first flock ; all the rest will be sure 

 to follow in their tracks higher or lower, perhaps, but all 

 in the same line. I have seen flock after flock of these 

 birds flying over my head for two hours, and so close upon 

 each other's heels that I often had not time to load. They 



