BIRDS OF INDIANA. 637 



becomes the most notable of the early bird movements., and they are 

 harbingers of spring. Their coming and going is the wonder of all 

 who behold them, and the impression they make upon the young mind 

 is lasting. 



They continue the spring migration through March, and usually 

 have passed the southern part of the State by the middle of that 

 month, though Mr. E. J. Chansler has noted them as late as April 2 

 (1897). In the vicinity of Lake Michigan they often continue abund- 

 ant up to that date. They are so reported April 2, 1893, at Kouts, 

 Ind., and common April 2, 1885. (Parker.) About this time, how- 

 ever, the migrants leave, and only those who remain to breed are 

 found. In years gone by many more bred with us than do now. 



Thirty years ago it was not uncommon to find upon the upland 

 meadows of Franklin and other southern counties, where great flocks 

 of these geese had stopped during the March migrations, numbers of 

 eggs that had been dropped by them. 



They still breed in some numbers in the Kankakee region and 

 less frequently in other favorable localities, notably Dekalb County 

 (J. 0. Snyder), Steuben County, at Twin Lakes of the Wood (Mrs. 

 J. L. Hine), Laporte County (C. L. Barber). They evidently begin 

 nesting between April 15 and May 1, as nests with the full comple- 

 ment of eggs are usually found from the first to third week in May. 



These geese are often domesticated. In our State the farmers in some 

 localities where they breed, get the eggs and hatch them under a hen. 

 Mr. L. T. Meyer informs me of one farmer in Lake County who found 

 a nest containing six eggs,, built upon a muskrat house. He took the 

 eggs, and the hen under which he set them hatched four goslings. 

 These he kept for a number of years, and they bred every year. In 

 this connection I desire to refer to an account of domesticated Canada 

 Geese by Mr. Wm. Dutcher, in the Auk, January, 1885, p. 111. The 

 notes are given from the experience of Capt. Lane, of Shinnecock Bay, 

 Long Island, and from these I quote the following concerning their 

 breeding habits: "They make their nests of dried grass, raising them 

 about twelve inches from the ground. They feather them when they be- 

 gin to lay, which is about May 1. None lay until three years old. The 

 first season four eggs are laid, five the second, and when older, six 

 or seven. A goose never has more than one mate, but while the goose 

 is sitting the gander never leaves her, though he never sits on the nest. 

 The time of incubation is four weeks. The young when hatched are 

 strong enough to take care of themselves; that is, they eat grass and 

 walk and swim as soon as they get dry. They will eat meal on the 



