74 niRDS OF p. E. ISLAND. 



Individuals of the AVhite, or Snow Goose 

 sometimes appear in the flocks of common Wild 

 Geese, early in the season. The White - fronted 

 Goose is also here at times. 



P'ollowing the Geese, soon after the ice breaks 

 up, Brant come into our harbors, always in large 

 flocks, of one hundred or more. They are much 

 smaller than Geese, being only two feet in length, 

 while (jccse are three feet. They remain in our 

 (juiet bays in great numbers all through the 

 sunn)' days of May, scattering in freedom over 

 the gleaming waters, dappling in the surface, and 

 sounding their hoarse, sonorous, croaking calls 

 through the still air of calm s])ring days. June 

 6th, if the weather is favorable, is their date for 

 leaving for the North, when they may be seen 

 departing in great flocks in the calm of declining 

 days. They are but little seen during their return 

 migration in October. 



The dreary winters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 

 during which ice sometimes forms solid to the 

 Magdalens, offer little inducement for water - fowl 

 to stay with us ; yet in the severest months, 

 wherever a stretch of blue wave breaks among 

 the floes, Golden - eyes, or Whistlers, Pintails and 



