CANADA GOOSE ; WILD GOOSE. 99 



they in the selection of a resting place, that only a very few are 

 obtained. 



Dr. Bell, of the Geological .Survey of Canada, who is well ac- 

 quainted with our native birds, and has furnished much valuable 

 information regarding their habits in the different regions he has 

 visited, says of this species: "The southern limit of the ordinary 

 breeding ground of the Canada Goose runs north-westward across the 

 continent from the Maritime Provinces to the valley of the McKenzie. 

 I have met with them breeding in considerable numbers in the 

 interior of Newfoundland, but in the same latitude, between the Great 

 Lakes and James' Bay, only chance pairs lag behind in their north- 

 ward flight to hatch their broods. They also breed on the islands 

 along the east coast of Hudson's Bay. To the westward of the bay 

 they are first met with, raising their young on the lower part of 

 Churchill River. To the eastward it is said that very few Canada 

 Geese breed northward of Hudson's Strait." 



In these remote regions they no doubt enjoy the quiet which is 

 necessary to the raising of their young. Farther south, while on their 

 migratory journeys, they are subjected to continual persecution, which 

 has trained them to be extremely vigilant; and when feeding or 

 reposing on the water, sentinels are placed on the outskirts of the 

 flock, who at once spread the alarm on the slightest appearance of 

 danger. "So acute," says Audubon, "is their sense of hearing, that 

 they are able to distinguish the different sounds or footsteps of their 

 friends or foes with astonishing accuracy. Thus the breaking of a 

 stick by a deer is distinguished from the same accident occasioned 

 by a man. If a dozen large turtles drop into the water making a 

 great noise in their fall, or if the same effect has been produced by an 

 alligator, the wild goose pays no regard to it ; but however faint and 

 distant may be the sound of an Indian padplle that may by accident 

 have struck the side of the canoe, it is at once marked. Every 

 individual raises its head and looks intently towards the place from 

 which the noise has proceeded, and in silence all watch the move- 

 ments of the enemy." 



