240 The Water-fowl Family 



goose have been taken off Cape Cod, and at 

 times appear in Boston markets from this locality. 

 On Long Island the bird is well known, though 

 rare, and goes by the name of mud goose. Off 

 North and South Carolina this goose is occasion- 

 ally seen in small flocks by itself, or in company 

 with the Canada geese. Here it is called gab- 

 bling goose. Along the Pacific Coast the bird is 

 a common variety, appearing early in October, 

 and frequenting the salt-water marshes, often 

 going a considerable distance back from the shore. 



When inland, they are sometimes approached 

 on horseback or driven upon by oxen. Many 

 are killed in the line of flight. They decoy readily 

 on their feeding-grounds. Their food consists 

 of shellfish and Crustacea, various water vege- 

 tables, and when opportunity provides, grain. 

 The flesh, at times fishy, if the birds have been 

 feeding inland may be excellent, and is of a 

 whiter character than that of the Canada goose. 

 In Dakota and along the Mississippi Valley, the 

 Hutchins' goose is more common in spring than 

 fall, large flocks passing through the interior in 

 March on their way north. 



The breeding-ground is within the Arctic cir- 

 cle, on the shores and islands of the Arctic Sea, 

 also on the lower Anderson River. 



The birds separate from the flock in pairs early 

 in June ; the nest is placed in marshes near the 



