VOL. LXIl.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 34 J 



attain a perfect whiteness till they are a year old. They visit Severn river first in 

 the middle of May, on their journey northward, where they breed; return in 

 the beginning of September, with their young, staying at Severn settlement 

 about a fortnight each time. The Indian name is way-way, at Churchill river. 

 Linnaeus has not taken notice of this species. 



Anas. 46. Canadensis. 198, 14. Canada Goose. Faun. Am. Sept. 16. 

 Edw. ]51. Catesby 1, 92, &c. Severn river, N°42. 



The Canada geese are very plentiful at Hudson's Bay, great quantities of them 

 are salted, but they have a fishy taste. The specimen sent over agrees perfectly 

 with the descriptions and drawings. At Hudson's Bay this species is called the 

 small grey goose. Besides this, and the preceding white goose, Mr. Graham, 

 the gentleman who sent the account from Severn settlement, mentions 3 other 

 species of wild geese to be met with at Hudson's Bay, he calls them, 1. The 

 large grey goose. 2. The blue goose. 3. The laughing goose. ;' 



The first of these, the large grey goose, he says, is so common in England, 

 that he thought it unnecessary to send specimens of it over. It is however 

 presumed, that though Mr. Graham has shown himself a careful observer, and 

 an indefatigable collector; yet, not being a naturalist, he could not enter into any 

 minute examination about the species to which each goose belongs, nor from 

 mere recollection know that his grey goose was actually to be met with in 

 England. A natural history, by examination, often finds material differences, 

 which would escape a person unacquainted with natural history. The wish, there- 

 fore, of seeing the specimens of these species of geese, must occur to every lover of 

 that science. Mr. Graham says, the large geese are the only species that breed 

 about Severn river. They frequent the plains and swamps along the coast. 

 Their weight is 9 pounds. 



The blue goose is as large as the white goose; and the laughing goose is of 

 the size of the Canada or small grey goose. These last two species are very 

 common along Hudson's Bay to the southward, but very rare to the northward 

 of Severn river. The Indians have a peculiar method of killing all these species 

 of geese, and also swans. As these birds fly regularly along the marshes, the 

 Indians range themselves in a line across the marsh from the wood to high 

 water mark, about musket shot from each other, so as to be sure of intercepting 

 any geese which fly that way. Each person conceals himself, by putting round 

 him some brush wood; they also make artificial geese of sticks and mud, placing 

 them at a short distance from themselves, in order to decoy the real geese within 

 shot: thus prepared, they sit down, and keep a good look out; and as soon as the 

 flock approaches, they all lie down, imitating the call or note of geese, which 

 these birds no sooner hear, and perceive the decoys, than they go straight down 

 towards them; then the Indians rise on their knees, and discharge 1, 2, or 3 



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