134 



GEESE 



full clutch is 6 or 7 eggs. In 

 about four weeks they hatch. 

 The mothers and the young 

 frequent the larger inland 

 lakes until the young are able 

 to walk and swim and dive 

 fairly well, and then they take 

 to the open sea. In late Au- 

 gust or early September the 

 fall molting season comes on. 

 The geese then repair to the 

 most remote and isolated 

 lakes to be safe and free from 

 disturbance while their wing 

 feathers are renewed. At this 

 time they are relatively help- 

 less and the Eskimo find them 

 easy prey. By mid-September 

 the molting season is over 

 and the geese leave at once." 

 According to Witherby's 

 Handbook the average size 

 of the egg of this species is 

 3.21 by 2.17 inches. 



Audubon (1840) says: "The flight of this species is strong and 

 steady, and its migrations over the United States are performed at a con- 

 siderable elevation, by regular flappings of the wings, and a disposition 

 into lines similar to that of other geese. It walks well, and with rather 

 elevated steps; but on land its appearance is not so graceful as that of 

 our Common Canada Goose. Whilst with us they are much more silent 

 than any other of our species, rarely emitting any cries unless when pur- 

 sued or being wounded. They swim buovantly, and when pressed, swim 

 well. When attacked by the white-headed eagle, or any other rapacious 

 bird, they dive well for a short space. At the least appearance of danger, 

 when they are on land, they at once come close together, shake their 

 heads and necks, move off in a contrary direction, very soon take to wing, 

 and fly to a considerable distance, but often return after a time." 



"In the autumn migration the first of the Greater Snow Geese to 

 reach the feeding and nesting grounds at St. Joachim, Quebec, arrive 

 there about September 12. Thereafter the birds continue to arrive grad- 

 ually, in small flocks, for about a month, until all are present. On this 

 autumn migration they are said to arrive at the Seal Islets, about twenty- 

 five miles east of St. Joachim, some ten days before they are seen at the 

 latter place. The first arrivals in the autumn are adults, and their num- 

 bers at St. Joachim are said to increase gradually to about 2,000 before 

 any birds of the year are to be found with them. Whether or not these 

 early-arriving adults are all or nearly all of the one sex is not known. 



