SWAN. GEESE. DUCKS. 



Arrives in Hudfon's Bay in June : lays ten fmall white eggs, and 

 makes its neft on the top of fome ftump of a tree, near the fides of ponds, 

 and forms a cavity by fcraping away the rotten wood : hatches in 

 July, and immediately conveys its young to the water : retires in 

 OSiober. 



Swans were twice feen, in April, in Nootka found, flying northward, 540. 



towards their breeding-places. Thefe birds accompany the Geefe in 

 their vernal vifit to Hudfon's Bay, in flocks of about nine : are very nu- 

 merous inland, but alfo breed along the coaft. 



The Grey Lag Goose appears as foon as the fun has force enough 

 to melt the ice ; that is in May. They alight and feed on the grafly 

 fpots : they colle£t in flocks of twenty or thirty : fliay about three 

 weeks : feparate into pairs, and refort along the coafls to breed. In 

 July they moult, at which time the Indians knock them down with 

 fticks. Some are brought alive to the fadtories, where they are fed with 

 corn, and thrive greatly. About the middle oi Auguft the Geefe return 

 tp the marflies with their young, and continue there till September. 



The Blue-winged Goose is very numerous about Albany Fort, e.^^ 



but grows more fcarce towards the north. The head and neck of the 

 male is of a pure white. 



Brent Geese fl:ay about three months in Hudfon's Bay, and are very ^^ j^ 



numerous. 



The Velvet Duck is always on the fea, and never on the lakes. 55^5, 



Returns to Sweden the latefl: of any, and lays the lateft ; even the eggs 



have been found frefli layed in the beginning of July. They are white, 



and about eight or ten in number. This fpecies lays them under the 



juniper bulhes, and covers them clofe with its elaftic feathers. The 



young dive moft admirably. The mother fights in defence of them, 



but refigns them to the vidor. They live entirely on Ihells. 



'2 The 



IS 



