ii8 THE COMPLETE WILDFOWLER 



strong winds they always fly high. Should a fall of snow 

 occur before the supply of food on the stubbles is exhausted, 

 the geese resort to feed on the grassy islands and foreshores of 

 the upper H umber. Under favourable conditions of weather I 

 have known one shooter with a shoulder gun to bag twenty- 

 three geese in a single night on an island in the Humber. 



The main body of geese arrive from their northern homes 

 about the third week in October. In November they are seen 

 in very large flocks. Towards Christmas their numbers seem 

 to decrease according to the weather ; after Christmas they 

 begin to increase again. In February they are very numerous, 

 and frequent the Humber day and night. I have seen about 

 two thousand in one flock. By the latter end of April all the 

 geese have gone except the "pricked" birds. The earliest 

 date I have noticed for their arrival is September 22, 1903 — 

 four days earlier than any previously observed. 



Yorkshire has always been noted for its wild geese. At 

 one time the grey lag bred in the Carrs of Holderness. After 

 the south-eastern parts of Holderness were cultivated (but not 

 enclosed) large flocks of geese came in the autumn and again 

 in the spring. These birds are supposed to have been the 

 Bean goose, and there is reason to believe they were of this 

 species. At the mouth of the Humber Brent geese occur 

 every year, though never in large numbers except in severe 

 winters. The largest flock I have seen there numbered about 

 three hundred. They would not allow our punt to approach 

 them. Of the rare geese, Yorkshire holds a few records, the 

 chief being the red-breasted goose. The white-fronted goose 

 has repeatedly occurred. The snow goose from North America 

 has been noted as seen in the county at least on two occa- 

 sions. 



My experience of grey goose shooting has been varied. 

 Although at certain seasons, under favourable conditions, 

 good sport has been enjoyed with these birds in the Humber, 



