NORTHERN OCEAN 401 



Second, The Canada Goose. Third, The White, or Snow 

 Goose. Fifth, The Blue Goose. Sixth, The Laughing Goose. 

 Seventh, The Barren Goose. Eighth, The Brent Goose. 

 Ninth, The Dunter ; and Tenth, the Bean Goose. 



Common Grey Goose. ^ This bird precedes every other Common 

 species of Goose in those parts, and in some forward Springs 

 arrives at Churchill River so early as the latter [438] end of 

 April, but more commonly from the eleventh to the sixteenth 

 of May ; and in one year it was the twenty-sixth of May 

 before any Geese made their appearance. At their first arrival 

 they generally come in pairs, and are so fond of society, that 

 they fly streight to the call that imitates their note ; by which 

 means they are easily shot. They breed in great numbers in 

 the plains and marshes near Churchill River ; and in some 

 years the young ones can be taken in considerable numbers, 

 and are easily tamed ; but will never learn to eat corn, unless 

 some of the old ones are taken with them, which is easily 

 done when in a moulting state. On the ninth of August one 

 thousand seven hundred and eighty-one, when I resided at 

 Prince of Wales's Fort, I sent some Indians up Churchill 

 River in canoes to procure some of those Geese, and in the 

 afternoon they were seen coming down the river with a large 

 flock before them ; the young ones not more than half-grown, 

 and the old ones so far in a moulting state as not to be 

 capable of flying ; so that, with the assistance of the English 

 and the Indians then residing on the plantation, the whole 

 flock, to the amount of forty-one, was drove within the 

 stockade which incloses the Fort, where they were fed and 

 fattened for Winter use. Wild Geese taken and fattened in 

 this manner are much preferable to any tame Geese in the 

 world. When this species of Geese are full-grown, and in 

 good condition, they often weigh twelve pounds, but more 

 frequently much less. 



[^ Branta canadensis (Linn.). This large goose is the earliest to arrive in 

 spring, and is the most southern breeder, nesting throughout the wooded country.] 



2 C 



