402 



A JOURNEY TO THE 



Canada 

 Goose. 



White or 

 Snow Goose. 



[439] Canada Goose/ or Pisk-a-sish, as it is called by the 

 Indians, as well as the English in Hudson's Bay. This species 

 do not differ in plumage from the former, but are inferior 

 in size ; the bill is much smaller in proportion, and the flesh 

 being much whiter, of course is more esteemed. They are by 

 no means so numerous as the former, and generally fly far 

 North to breed ; but some few of their eggs are found near 

 Churchill River. It is seldom that either of these species lay 

 more than four eggs ; but if not robbed, they usually bring 

 them all forth. 



White or Snow Goose. ^ These are the most numerous 

 of all the species of birds that frequent the Northern 

 parts of the Bay, and generally make their appearance 

 about a week or ten days after the Common Grey Goose. 

 In the first part of the season they come in small parties, 

 but in the middle, and toward the latter end, they 

 fly in such amazing flocks, that when they settle in the 

 marshes to feed, the ground for a considerable distance 

 appears like a field of snow. When feeding in the same 

 marsh with the Grey Geese, they never mix. Like the Grey 

 Geese, they fly to the call that resembles their note ; and in 

 some years are killed and salted in great numbers for Winter 

 provision ; they are almost universally thought good eating, 

 and will, if proper care be taken in curing them, continue 

 good for eighteen months or two years. The Indians are far 

 more expert in killing Geese, as well as every other species 

 of game, than any European I ever saw in Hudson's Bay ; 

 [440] for some of them frequently kill upward of a hundred 



[^ Branta canadensis hutchinsi (Richardson). This smaller form of the 

 Canada Goose was named in honour of Thomas Hutchins, a Hudson's Bay 

 Company officer who made natural history collections on Hudson Bay, and was 

 the first to call attention to this race. It breeds on the Barren Grounds.] 



[* Chen hyperboreus nivalis (Forster). This larger form of C. hyperboreus was 

 first described from Severn River specimens. Though much reduced in num- 

 bers, it still breeds about the northern part of Hudson Bay, and is an important 

 food species in the region.] 



