210 ANI3IALS IN MENAGERIES. 



and^ after remaining a fortnight, proceed further north 

 to their breeding places ; which, as subsequently ascer- 

 tained by Dr. Richardson, are the barren grounds of 

 the arctic region : the birds return to Severn River the 

 beginning of September; and after staying about a month, 

 depart for the south, attended by their young, in innu- 

 merable flocks. 



Some very interesting remarks by Dr. Richardson, 

 alike applicable to this and the two other species of 

 geese of North America, are so appropriate to our pre- 

 sent purpose, that we shall here introduce them. The 

 arrival of the different species of geese in the fur 

 countries, marks the return of spring, and diffuses as 

 much joy among the wandering hunters of the arctic 

 regions, as the harvest or vintage excites in more genial 

 climes. It is an event of great importance to the 

 natives, as it affords them a supply of food at a season 

 when the moose and deer hunting is impeded by the 

 floods of melted snow. The larger species of Anas, or 

 the geese, are chiefly attended to ; and they are observed 

 to follow determinate routes in their progress northward, 

 and to halt regularly at certain stations. Their return in 

 autumn is also by passes well known to the natives ; 

 but not always in the same line with their summer 

 movements. Actuated, in the beginning of the season, 

 by an impulse which hurries them to the breeding sta- 

 tions, they remain at their resting places only long 

 enough to admit of the country to the northward being 

 properly thawed for their reception ; but during these 

 rests, which are seldom prolonged beyond eight or ten 

 days, they become very fat, although on their first ar- 

 rival they are always lean. Their movements to the 

 northward are sometimes premature ; and after having 

 left a station, they occasionally return to it for a few 

 days : such an event is always followed by cold frosty 

 weather, or severe snow storms. AVhen they return in 

 autumn, their migrations being more exclusively regu- 

 lated by the supplies of food they can obtain, their halt 

 in the marshy districts, through which the Saskatchewan 



