THE CANADA GOOSE. 193 



distinguish their landmarks and uncertain what direction 

 to pursue. When this happens they sometimes fall an 

 easy prey to the gun. I myself on one occasion came 

 suddenly close upon half-a-dozen of them in a field by 

 the wayside. 



The Crees and other northern tribes, concealed by 

 temporary coverings of boughs, erected at short intervals 

 in a straight line across country, attract them by setting 

 up as decoys on the wide marshes in their course several 

 of those previously shot, and then imitating the bird's 

 clarionet-like call. This they do so correctly as seldom 

 to fail in bringing the passing flock within range of their 

 fowling-pieces. 



To such an extent are the different methods of de- 

 struction carried on throughout their perilous route, that 

 though at its commencement the flocks are large and 

 numerous, they soon become so broken up that further 

 south their passage ceases to be watched for. 



The return of the survivors northward, sooner or 

 later, at the commencement of the following year, is 

 always regarded as a sign of a late or early spring. 

 Though on leaving winter-quarters they are in very 

 poor condition, the change to inland diet appears to fatten 

 them so rapidly that by the time they reach the northern 

 regions, where they constitute an important item of food, 

 and are anxiously watched for, they are in first-rate 



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