250 PftAIEIE AND FOREST. 



in numbers, when compared to the immense flocks 

 that are to be found in autumn and spring scat- 

 tered all over the western prairies, or in winter and 

 early spring along the Atlantic seaboard of the United 

 States. From their size the novice will frequently 

 mistake them for wild geese, but a little experience will 

 soon teach him that there is a marked difference in 

 their flap of wing, and in the figures they form while 

 in flight. Again, the large white marking on the lower 

 portion of the breast and along the stomach, con- 

 .spicuous for a great distance, soon tells the tale that 

 they are not the more coveted larger species. 



Another characteristic of this species is, that they 

 are far less wary than geese, and appear to be gifted 

 with such an amount of curiosity, that even when they 

 .are almost out of sight of the sportsman they may 

 frequently be recalled within gunshot by waving a 

 pocket-handkerchief, or inducing your retriever to run 

 about after sticks, provided always that the shooter is 

 out of sight. 



I remember such a circumstance occurring to me 

 while on the lower portion of the Chesapeake Ba}*, 

 State of Maryland. In the society of a veteran wild- 

 fowl shooter, I started one bitterly cold morning to 

 shoot wild-fowl at a place most appropriately desig- 

 nated the Mussel-hole. From sunrise till two hours 

 afterwards we enjoyed most excellent sport, but soon 

 -a thaw commenced, accompanied by a soft, balmy, 

 southerly wind, which appeared to have the immediate 

 effect on all the wild-fowl, with the exception of an 

 enormous flock of brent, of sending them off seaward. 

 For over an hour we patiently waited for a change in 

 the atmosphere, but no such occurred; and we were 



