62 WATER FOWL. 



the tender grass and plants growing beneath. Some- 

 times the flocks dig large holes in the bottom, but com- 

 mit nothing like the damage, nor waste such quantities 

 of food as do the Swan. Canada Geese have no special 

 time for feeding, and seem to find much pleasure in the 

 occupation both during the day and night. If they de- 

 sire to seek their food in the marshes, they generally 

 enter them at night, two or three hours after sundown, 

 and their arrival in such places is always known by the 

 honking of the birds as they prepare to alight, or as 

 those already on the ground salute the newcomers. 

 While feeding, if feeling secure, they are often very 

 noisy, and keep up a continual calling. Soon after the 

 rising of the sun they leave the marshes and retire to the 

 bays and sounds, and usually keep well away from 

 the shore. 



When a flock is on the wing, its members always give 

 an intimation of their desire to alight by sailing on mo- 

 tionless pinions for a short distance. Unless frightened 

 away, this action is almost universally the precursor of 

 a cessation of flight. The Wild Goose is very fond of 

 sanding, as it is called, and daily will visit the beach or 

 bars in the rivers or sounds to obtain this much-desired 

 article, and if undisturbed will gather in such places in 

 immense numbers at certain stages of the water or tide. 

 Advantage is taken of this habit by sportsmen, and holes 

 are dug in the sand, into which boxes are placed large 

 enough to hold one or two men, and sand piled about 

 them as a breastwork, or surrounded by reeds stood up- 

 right. Wooden or live decoys are placed about this 

 blind, according to the direction of the wind, for the 

 Geese will always swing round so as to come up to them 

 against the wind before alighting. A flock of these large 

 birds approaching the decoys is a beautiful sight, and we 



