354 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



have been reached by man ; and they are marked by 

 the swiftness of their flight, and the height to which 

 they soar : 



" Vainly the fowler's eye, 



Might mark thy distant flight, to do thee wrong; 

 As darkly painted on the crimson sky. 



Thy figure floats along. 

 " Seek'st thou the plashy brink, 

 Of weedy lake, or merge of river wide ; 

 Or where the rocking billows rise and sink 



On the chaffed ocean side ; 

 " There is a Power, whose care 

 Teaches thy way along the pathless coast, 

 The desert and illimitable air, 



Lone wandering, but not lost. 

 " Thou'rt gone ! thy abyss of heaven 

 Hath swallowed up thy form!" 



If few, they fly in one line, but if numerous, in 

 two, converging to a point like the letter A turned 

 upside down, and they are always led by an old ex 

 perienced gander. They make their appearance in 

 Hudson Bay in spring, going north, where great 

 quantities are taken, and salted for a winter's store ; 

 and on their return in winter, they are killed and 

 frozen up for fresh provisions. They are easily 

 domesticated, and readily pair with the common gray 

 goose ; but their wings must be cut to prevent their 

 absconding, for on the approach of spring they are 

 always observed to become restless and uneasy, fre 

 quently looking up into the air, making attempts to 

 fly away, and hailing every flock of their wild 

 brethren that passes over their heads, who always ac 

 knowledge and return the salute. 



The Barnacle Goose, or Brant Goose, is common 

 to the northern regions of both continents, emigrat 

 ing to more temperate climates in autumn and winter. 



