278 * CANADA GOOSE. 



die of August to the middle of October; those which are taken 

 in this season, when the frosts begin, are preserved in their 

 feathers, and left to be frozen for the fresh provisions of the 

 winter stock. The feathers constitute an article of commerce, 

 and are sent to England. 



The vernal flight of the Geese lasts from the middle of April 

 until the middle of May. Their first appearance coincides with 

 the thawing of the swamps, when they are very lean. .Their 

 arrival from the south is impatiently attended ; it is the harbin- 

 ger of the spring, and the month named by the Indians the 

 Goose moon. They appear usually at their settlements about St. 

 George's day, 0. S. and fly northward to nestle in security. They 

 prefer islands to the continent, as farther from the haunts of man.* 

 After such prodigious havoc as thus appears to be made 

 among these birds, and their running the gauntlet, if I may so 

 speak, for many hundreds of miles through such destructive 

 fires, no wonder they should have become more scarce, as well 

 as shy, by the time they reach the shores of the United States. 

 Their first arrival on the coast of New Jersey is early in Oc- 

 tober, and their first numerous appearance is the sure prognos- 

 tic of severe weather. Those which continue all winter frequent 

 the shallow bays and marsh islands; their principal food being 

 the broad tender green leaves of a marine plant which grows 

 on stones and shells, and is usually called sea-cabbage; and also 

 the roots of the sedge, which they are frequently observed in 

 the act of tearing up. Every few days they make an excursion 

 to the inlets on the beach for gravel. They cross, indiscrimi- 

 nately, over land or water, generally taking the nearest course 

 to their object; differing in this respect from the Brant, which 

 will often go a great way round by water rather than cross over 

 the land. They swim well; and if wing-broken, dive and go 

 a great way under water, causing the sportsman a great deal of 

 fatigue before he can kill them. Except in very calm weather 

 they rarely sleep on the water, but roost all night in the marsh- 



* Arct. Zool. 



