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The Anseres (clucks, geese and swans) are regularly migratory 

 in Manitoba, leaving only on the freezing up of the ponds, 

 rivers and lakes, which are the feeding ground and resting places 

 of these birds. They winter usually as far north as they can 

 procure food, open water and protection from enemies. For this 

 reason we may argue that food and protection are sought by 

 this order in migrating, as they are so constructed as to be com- 

 paratively helpless out of reach of water, notwithstanding the fact 

 that they regularly leave the water to feed in the stubble fields. 

 They rise and strike out in a regular swift and systematic flight 

 to winter quarters when compelled to leave their summer homes. 



2. TheLimicolcB — shore-birds — snipe, sandpipers and plover — 

 show different characteristics, and no family of land birds has 

 a greater migration range. Many species which do not reach us 

 until late in May pass long distances north of us to breed, and 

 return early in August with their families. Leaving us early in 

 September, they continue their journey by degrees till they are 

 regularly recorded as wintering in Southern Patagonia. It is 

 evident that neither food nor protection is the cause of such an 

 extensive migration, as the birds are regular in their return in 

 the spring, even though their breeding grounds are still snow 

 and ice bound, and they are gone from us again in the fall often 

 before the first frosts. 



Observations of the birds of this order in life, and a compari- 

 son with human beings, have likened them to a very nervous 

 and hysterical person, who never can remain quiet and is always 

 fidgeting and twitching the hands and feet, as the majority of 

 species seem affected with St. Vitas' dance. Even when stand- 

 ing in one place they are constantly bobbing their heads and 

 bodies in an involuntary and nervous manner, and look as 

 though they grudged the time they were spending with us and 

 were anxious to be away again. Their calls express the same 

 wild hysterical and fretful feeling. 



As they are usually gregarious, they are easily decoyed by 

 an imitation of their own whistle or that of a kindred species. 

 The long narrow wings are well adapted for their nervous and 

 erratic flights. 



