AVES— WILD GOOSE. 



661 



fines of the great lakes are equally ignoraat with ourselves of the particular 

 breeding places of these birds. There, their journey north is but commenc- 

 ing, and how far it extends it is impossible for us at present to ascertain. 

 They were seen by Hearne in large flocks within the arctic circle, and were 

 then pursuing their way still farther north. They have been seen, also, on 

 the dreary coast of Spitsbergen, feeding on the water's edge. It is highly 

 probable that they extend their migrations under the very pole itself, amid 

 the silent desolation of unknown countries, shut out from the eye of man by 

 everlasting barriers of ice. That such places abound with suitable food, we 

 cannot for a moment doubt. 



The flight of the wild geese is heavy and laborious, generally in a straight 

 line, or in two lines approximating to a point. In both cases, the van is led 

 by an old gander, who every now and then pipes his well known houk, as if 

 to ask how they come on ; and the houk of " all 's well," is generally 

 returned by some of the party. When bewildered in foggy weather, they 

 appear sometimes to be in great distress, flying about in an irregular man- 

 ner, making a great clamor. On these occasions, should they alight on the 

 earth, as they sometimes do, they meet with speedy death and destruction. 

 The autumnal flight lasts ft-om the middle of August to the middle of Octo- 

 ber^ the vernal flight from the middle of April to the middle of May. 



Wounded geese have frequently been domesticated, and readily pair with 

 tame geese. On the approach of spring, however, they discover symptoms 

 of great uneasiness, frequently looking up into the air, and attempting to go 

 ofiF. Some, whose wings have been closely cut, have travelled on foot in a 

 northerly direction, and have been found at a distance of several miles from 



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