( 290 ) 



continue flying during the night, but occasionally alight and await 

 the day. Before doing so, however, their experienced pioneers sur- 

 vey the space below and select a place favorable for food and safety. 

 Sentinels are then appointed from among the ganders to sound the 

 alarm should an enemy appear. I have seen them adopt the same 

 precaution when sanding in large flocks by day. Those separate 

 from the main body would move about with heads erect, ready to 

 catch the first sign of intrusion ; " after strutting their hour " would 

 return to the main body, their places being immediately supplied 

 by others. I have often been disappointed by such a movement, 

 supposing it to be a signal for flight, looked well to my gun, but 

 after waiting a few moments in suspense, discovered it to be merely 

 a change of guard. 



The hoarse honking of the gander is so familiar to the inhabitants 

 of our country, that it is impossible for them to arrive among us 

 without making their visit known. All welcome their return ; the 

 once keen eye of the aged gunner again sparkles as he beholds their 

 grand and. lofty flight. The firelock, that useful piece of furniture 

 which ornaments all our farm-houses, is immediately brought into 

 requisition, and the village store-keeper is industriously employed 

 in answering the demand for " single B.'s." The report of guns re- 

 verberates through the country, but still these sagacious birds 

 keep on their steady course ; occasionally a single feather may be 

 seen slowly descending to the earth, as if to inform the eager gun- 

 ner of their nicely calculated distance, or perchance after the loud 

 report of some well-mettled piece, a single bird may be seen leaving 

 the flock, its death knell sounded by its more fortunate, but terrified 

 companions. 



But not so with the practised bay-gunner. On the return of the 

 Geese his prospects brighten ; he looks upon them as debtors re- 

 turned to cancel a long-standing obligation ; he wastes not his am- 

 munition on space ; he has watched their flight, and discovered 

 their favorite sanding place ; the long-neglected decoys are placed 

 in his skiff, and before daylight has appeared, he is pulling his way 

 across the rough bay with glorious anticipations of profit. On gain- 

 ing the desired point, he puts out his decoys, sinks a box in the 

 sand, and there lies concealed. As they approach, his keen eye 



