AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 139 



The Canada Goose is universally conceded to be the king of Amer- 

 ican game water fowl, and twice a year, during the spring and fall, mi- 

 grations has to run the gauntlet of all the sportsmen from one extreme 

 of the country to the other. So great a prize are they considered by 

 the sporting fraternity that many who would object strenuously at being 

 compelled to do a few hours work, will labor uncomplainingly in the 

 hot sun for several days and expend much money, time and patience, 

 that they may be the cause of the early and violent demise of a number 

 of these grand birds. Thus during both migrations the life of the wild 

 goose is a hard and dangerous one and so many of them fail in the 

 attempt to run the gauntlet that unless new game laws are made within 

 a short time, few flocks will be left to announce the coming of spring. 

 Even if it is absolutely necessary that man should be allowed to grati- 

 fy his desire to kill, the geese and all ducks should at least enjoy the 

 privileges of being protected during either the spring or fall migration, 

 and given a fair chance to preserve their race. 



The migratory flight of the Canada Geese is one of the most inter- 

 esting and spectacular sights in the ornithological world, and has been 

 the theme of much literature, both verse and prose. 



"Honk, honk," the sound comes faintly from a great distance, grad- 

 ually drawing nearer and nearer, sounding not unlike the baying of a 

 pack of hounds in full cry. You drop your work and hasten out of 

 doors. You are not alone; from every house and shop in the neighbor- 

 hood, men, women and children come rushing to witness the coming 

 spectacle. You can imagine the astonishment of one not initiated in 

 the ways of birdology to see this vast throng all gazing, open mouthed, 

 towards the southern horizon, in which direction he looks in vain to 

 discern the cause of gathering. Soon his eye perceives a thin black 

 line faintly outlined against the sky and close to the horizon. The line 

 grows larger and in a few moments he learns that it is composed of 

 birds, large birds, and that they are flying in the shape of a wedge. 

 As they sweep by overhead, added to the noisy honking is the beating 

 of a hundred or more wings, and the long converging lines, headed by 

 an old gander, appear smaller and smaller as they draw away and at 

 last the vision fades from view in the distance. 



The goose is an affectionate parent and is very fierce in the defence 

 of its young. They are believed to remain mated for life. They sub- 



