120 GAME-BIRDS AT HOME. 



from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and has made 

 abundant sport in every State of the Union. 

 But nowhere has he been so plenty, spent so long 

 a portion of the year, and made such varied 

 shooting as in California. Before the plains and 

 slopes of the southern part became so covered 

 with vineyards, orchards, and fine homes, it was 

 the favorite winter home of myriads of geese. 

 They dotted the spangled green of most of the 

 larger plains, and in many places made the finest 

 and easiest shooting. Though fair shooting yet 

 remains in places, nothing can give any idea of 

 the hordes of geese that from the North once 

 poured down to winter in this sunny land. Snow- 

 geese, generally called "white brant," were al- 

 most always in sight. Like lines of cloud they 

 streamed along the breast of the distant moun- 

 tain, stood like sheets of snow upon the green 

 of the rolling plain, or upon the waters of the 

 lagoon floated as lightly as the reflection beside 

 them of the snowy peaks. 



The clanging cackle of the white-fronted goose, 

 commonly called "gray brant" or sometimes 

 " black brant " to distinguish it from the " white 

 brant," was as common as the warbling of the 



