W H I T E - F R O N T E D GOOSE 121 



the edge of a small lake (in the water) in the Barren Grounds; they were 

 all ganders, and molting. On our approach they went sailing (swim- 

 ming) across the lake, which was about 2 miles in extent. Our 

 party then divided half taking one side, and half the other side of the 

 lake and by the time we reached the spot where the geese had quitted 

 the water, they had all concealed themselves as well as the scant grass 

 and low tangled willows in the vicinity would permit. After we discovered 

 their whereabouts there was some sport and a lively chase after them, 

 and we soon succeeded in securing 27 out of the 30 the remaining 3 

 having escaped beyond our reach, although followed for some distance 

 into the water. They were all in good condition, in fact, grey wavies 

 are always fat and excellent eating, while it is but seldom in spring 

 and never in summer that a really good Canada Goose is met with. 

 The Indians inform me that when they observe a flock of swans or 

 geese on a lake, during the molting season, they at once make a fire 

 on the shore, and they state that this course on their part never fails to 

 drive the geese, etc., on land, where most of them easily fall prey to 

 the hunter. If they were only wise enough to remain in the water at 

 a proper distance they would be safe enough." 



These geese are often early migrants in the autumn and they may 

 frequently be seen early in September on their wintering grounds in 

 California, long before the arrival of the other Arctic-breeding geese. 

 That the date of their departure largely depends upon the weather is 

 shown from the following observations of Nelson (1887), who says: "All 

 through September, old and young, which have been on the wing since 

 August, gather in large flocks, and as the sharp frosts toward the end of 

 September warn them of approaching winter, commence moving south. 

 The marshes resound with their cries, and after some days of chattering, 

 flying back and forth, and a general bustle, they suddenly start off in 

 considerable flocks, and a few laggards which remain get away by the 

 7th or 8th of October." 



The flight of the White-fronted Goose has been well described by 

 Blanchan (1898) as follows: "A long clanging cackle, wah, wah, wah, 

 wah, rapidly repeated, rings out of the late autumn sky, and looking up, 

 we see a long, orderly line of laughing geese that have been feeding since 

 daybreak in the stubble of harvested grain fields, heading a direct course 

 for the open water of some lake. With heads thrust far forward, these 

 flying projectiles go through space with enviable ease of motion. Because 

 they are large and fly high, they appear to move slowly; whereas the 

 truth is that all geese, when once fairly launched, fly rapidly, which be- 

 comes evident enough when they whiz by us at close range. It is only 

 when rising against the wind and making a start that their flight is ac- 

 tually slow and difficult. When migrating, they often trail across the 

 clouds like dots, so high do they go ... as if they spurned the earth. 

 But as a matter of fact they spend a great part of their lives on land; far 

 more than any of the ducks. On reaching a point above the water when 

 returning from the feeding grounds the long defile closes up into a mass. 

 The geese now break ranks, and each for itself goes wheeling about, 



