192 ANSERINE. 



geese when rising : the number brought down by a single 

 discharge is often surprising ; and few have rendered them- 

 selves so remarkable for this as the Wexford men, the u long 

 Shelmalier" used by them being peculiarly adapted for wild- 

 fowl shooting: and unfortunately, as experience proved, 

 equally capable of doing the same execution on many of the 

 loyal contemners of the " wild geese" of a former day. 



It is, however, by the swivel gun and punt that the great 

 numbers sent to the British markets are obtained. 



But yet occasional successes have their drawbacks, as a 

 correspondent's letter from Carlingford, on the subject, re- 

 marks : " After waiting nearly five hours unsuccessfully, I 

 consoled myself with Maxwell's remark, c All the shooter has 

 to rely upon is patience and a long barrel.' Patience, thought 

 I, time 12, a sleeting shower, and a wind cutting like a 

 knife Patience ! My appearance might have been pictu- 

 resque, but I assure you it was the antipodes of pleasant." 



Habitat Northern Europe. 



SPECIES 184 THE CANADA GOOSE. 



Anser Canadensis. Stephens. 

 Oie de Canade. Temm. 



THIS fine-looking species there is considerable doubt in ad- 

 mitting to a place in our Fauna, from the opinion that the 

 specimens obtained in various parts of the island may have 

 escaped from confinement in England, and been shot when 

 appearing upon our shores. 



However, concurring in the opinion expressed by Thomp- 

 son, we think it a species more likely to have crossed the 

 Atlantic than those which have occurred, not so well adapted 

 for a long flight as the Canada goose. In a conversation 

 with Dr. Farren of this city, respecting one of these birds 

 preserved in his collection at Feltrim, and which had been 

 shot at Balbriggan, after being closely watched for two days 

 before an opportunity occurred of shooting it, he fully con- 

 curred in this opinion respecting its perfectly wild state. 



Several other specimens have either been observed* or shot 

 in the island, amongst which four birds which settled down in 

 a locality perfectly in unison with the character they assumed 

 for a short time the ornamental waters of the Zoological 

 Gardens, in the Phoenix Park. Also in 1846 a fine specimen 



* Thompson. 



