BRITISH BIRDS. 261 



lies by him, and discharges that. The Geese 

 which he has killed, he sets up on sticks as if alive, 

 to decoy others; he also makes artificial birds for 

 the same purpose. In a good day ;for they fly in 

 very uncertain and unequal numbers) a single In- 

 dian will kill two hundred. Notwithstanding every 

 species of Goose has a different call, yet the Indians 

 are admirable in their imitation of every one. 



"The vernal flight of the Geese lasts from the 

 middle of April until the middle of May. Their 

 first appearance coincides with the thawing of the 

 swamps, when they are very lean. The autumnal, 

 or the season of their return with their young, is 

 from the middle of August to the middle of 

 October. Those which are taken in this latter 

 season, when the frosts usually begin, are preserved 

 in their feathers, and left to be frozen for the fresh 

 provisions of the winter stock. The feathers con- 

 stitute an article of commerce, and are sent to 

 England." 



