CANADA GOOSE. 079 



es. When the shallow bays are frozen, they seek the mouths 

 of inlets near the sea, occasionally visiting the air holes in the 

 ice; but these bays are seldom so completely frozen as to pre- 

 vent them from feeding on the bars. 



The flight of the Wild Geese is heavy and laborious, gene- 

 ally in a stright line, or in two lines approximating to a point, 

 thus, > ; in both cases the van is led by an old gander, who 

 every now and then pipes his well known honk, as if to ask how 

 they come on, and the honk of " all's well" is generally re- 

 turned by some of the party. Their course is in a straight line, 

 with the exception of the undulations of their flight. When be- 

 wildered in foggy weather, they appear sometimes to be in 

 great distress, flying about in an irregular manner, and for a 

 considerable time over the same quarter, making a great cla- 

 mour. On these occasions should they approach the earth, and 

 alight, which they sometimes do, to rest and recollect them- 

 selves, the only hospitality they meet with is death and de- 

 struction from a whole neighbourhood already in arms for their 

 ruin. 



W r ounded Geese have, in numerous instances, been complete- 

 ly domesticated, and readily pair with the tame Gray Geese. 

 The offspring are said to be larger than either; but the charac- 

 teristic marks of the Wild G.oose still predominate. The gun- 

 ners on the seashore have long been in the practice of taming 

 the wounded of both sexes, and have sometimes succeeded in 

 getting them to pair and produce. The female always seeks out 

 the most solitary place for her nest, not far from the water. 

 On the approach of every spring, however, these birds disco- 

 ver symptoms of great uneasiness, frequently looking up into 

 the air, and attempting to go off. Some whose wings have been 

 closely cut, have travelled on foot in a northern direction, and 

 have been found at the distance of several miles from home. 

 They hail every flock that passes overhead, and the salute is 

 sure to be returned by the voyagers, who are only prevented 

 from alighting among them by the presence and habitations of 

 man. The gunners take one or two of these domesticated Geese 



