28 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL. 



have been struck hard with the shot fired at them 

 from our twelve-bore guns ; but they managed to fly 

 clean out of sight, and we did not see them again. 



Genus Branta. Scopoli. 



51. Canada Goose. (Wild Goose.) B. canadensis, 

 (Linn.) 



" Transient Visitant," common. Although this 

 goose is plentiful during the migrations, compara- 

 tively very few are shot here or exposed for sale in 

 our markets, where it sells for $1. " Silly as a 

 goose" does not apply to the wild one, as the 

 sportsman knows when trying to get a shot at 

 it. In the spring of the year they begin to arrive 

 here, in the months of February and March, and 

 the bulk have departed north by the middle of 

 April ; but it is not unusual to see a small flock of 

 these geese on our lakes even in the month of 

 June. I have seen a small flock on Lake St. Louis 

 in June. Perhaps these late birds are bachelors or 

 barren, in which case there is not any necessity for 

 them to follow the others to their northern breed- 

 ing places. In the autumn, when returning on their 

 migration south, they arrive here in the month of 

 October, when some flocks remain with us until 

 frozen out. During the latter end of October, and 

 in the early part of November, good sport can be 

 had at Lake St. Francis shooting wild geese from 



