WILD GOOSE; CANADA GOOSE 61 



tion and strength of the wind determine the comparative 

 length of the two sides. 



The great gulls fly generally up or down the river 

 valley, cutting off the bends of the river, and so do 

 these geese. These fly sympathizing with the river, — 

 a stream in the air, soon lost in the distant sky. 



We see these geese swimming and flying at midday 

 and when it is perfectly fair. 



If you scan the horizon at this season of the year 

 you are very likely to detect a small flock of dark 

 ducks moving with rapid wing athwart the sky, or see 

 the undulating line of migrating geese against the 

 sky. 



Perhaps it is this easterly wind which brings geese, 

 as it did on the 24th. 



Undoubtedly the geese fly more numerously over 

 rivers which, like ours, flow northeasterly, — are more 

 at home with the water under them. Each flock runs 

 the gantlet of a thousand gunners, and when you see 

 them steer off from you and your boat you may remem- 

 ber how great their experience in such matters may be, 

 how many such boats and gunners they have seen and 

 avoided between here and Mexico, and even now, per- 

 chance (though you, low plodding, little dream it), they 

 see one or two more lying in wait ahead. They have an 

 experienced ranger of the air for their guide. The echo 

 of one gun hardly dies away before they see another 

 pointed at them. How many bullets or smaller shot 

 have sped in vain toward their ranks ! Ducks fly more 

 irregularly and shorter distances at a time. The geese 



