314 BIRDS OF THE FARM AND THE FARM- YARD. 



trumpet-sounding notes of the Canada Goose. They may 

 be heard at most hours of the day and during the night. 

 But spring is the time when these birds are most vocifer- 

 ous. Then it is that they are on the wing, moving in 

 aerial circles round the mansion ; now rising aloft, now 

 dropping into the water, with such notes of apparent joy 

 and revelling as cannot fail to attract the attention of 

 those who feel an interest in the wildest scenery." 



Wild Geese and other birds of the same family assem- 

 ble, not in myriads, like Pigeons and Blackbirds, but in 

 such limited flocks as admit of organization and geomet- 

 ric arrangement. Geese sometimes fly in a straight line ; 

 but more frequently make a triangular figure, that permits 

 each one in the rear to see its leader. Some naturalists say 

 that Geese fly to a greater height than any other bird ; 

 others say they are surpassed by Herons. They are often, 

 however, at so great height that they may be heard, when 

 nothing more of them than a black line can be seen. Be- 

 fore they alight upon the ground they form a straight line, 

 probably without any purpose but from the habit of ar- 

 ranging themselves in a single rank and file when flying. 

 Having taken their rest for a few hours, the sentinel gives 

 the signal note, when they all rise again, form the same 

 triangular group, and pursue their mysterious journey to 

 a southern clime. 



Naturalists are not agreed respecting the character of 

 the leader of these flocks. Some believe that an old gan- 

 der who has previously made the journey takes the lead. 

 Others assert that each one of the flock takes his turn in 

 being leader. It seems to me highly probable that neither 

 of these assumptions is correct ; but on the other hand, 

 that the leadership is a matter of chance, except that the 

 most powerful individuals would usually happen to place 

 themselves at the head of the flock, being naturally the 

 most active and vigorous, the first to rise from the ground 



