302 WILD FOWL SHOOTING. 



waived his hat in the air, as much as to say, " I-yi-yi 

 tu-tu-told you so." There was then a steady flight, not 

 frequent, but of regular intervals for two hours, and we 

 had splendid shooting, having killed 21 or 22 during 

 the day. 



Most ornithologists ascribe to Canada geese too little 

 weight. While it is true some weigh six and seven 

 pounds only, others go much higher, and we weighed 

 12 of the largest of the geese we killed, and found 

 they averaged over 11 Ibs. each. 



What they call in Nebraska " Hutchin's geese," are 

 exactly like the Canadas, but weigh six to eight pounds ; 

 they are more plenty than their larger cousins, and are 

 killed in greater numbers. 



The following morning at break of day, indeed before, 

 that time, we were in our " pits " in an old corn field 

 a bitter cold morning, 6 below zero. We had excellent 

 sport, and the heavy thud of the dead geese was very 

 exhilarating. We needed something to warm us up, 

 and really, I have forgotten whether or not Nebraska 

 is a prohibition State. Yes, I think it is ; anyway, the 

 falling of the geese warmed us up. During the after- 

 noon we had a practical illustration of what a " fool 

 of a goose " is. One came over our blind, sailed and 

 circled around, apparently afraid to come to the decoys. 

 At last he came over, way up where it would have 

 been an accident to have killed him. Both barrels 

 were fired at him, and he flew off unhurt. There 

 being no others moving, we watched him. He went 

 on and on for fully a mile, then came back, set his. 

 wings, sailed in over the decoys, and would have lit,, 

 had he not been killed within twenty yards of us. Dur- 

 ing the day we killed 23, mostly Canadas. 



