GEESE. 197 



be always distinguished by their flying in a figure. 

 These birds, instead of repairing to the coast, like 

 other geese, prefer keeping inland, where they feed 

 on the green wheat by day, and in the flooded water 

 meadows at night. Wild geese, when feeding by 

 day, take care to choose an open plain. You have 

 therefore no means of getting near them, unless they 

 are very tired, from having just arrived after a long 

 flight. I have once or twice, however, got shots at 

 them by taking one of the horses from a plough- 

 team, and walking under cover of him, with a large 

 gun. Some use a stalking-horse, the skin of a cow, 

 and various other contrivances ; which, after all, 

 seldom answer for geese, although they may for 

 golden plover, and other less artful birds. The 

 surest way, therefore, to kill them, is to let any one, 

 who works in the water meadows, ascertain what 

 parts they have used (which he will see by their 

 dung and feathers), and then wait for them at dusk, 

 in some ambush, that commands the fresh places 

 adjoining. Contrive, if possible, to get the line of a 

 dyke or drain, so as to take their company on the 

 flank. 



Let the man who goes after geese, or any wild 

 birds in the snow, dress as white as he can, and take 

 a white cotton nightcap ready to put on before he 

 begins crawling after them ; or to a certainty they 

 will catch sight of his head, and be off. 



