CANADA GOOSE. 17 



tera marina, along with marine insects, Crustacea, and small shell-fish, 

 all of which have a tendency to destroy the agreeable flavour which their 

 flesh has when their food consists of fresh-water plants, corn, and grass. 

 They spend much of their time at some distance from the shores, become 

 more shy, diminish in bulk, and are much inferior as food to those which 

 visit the interior of the country. None of these, however, are at all to 

 be compared Avith the goslings bred in the inland districts, and procured 

 in September, when, in my opinion, they far surpass the renowned Can- 

 vass-backed Duck. 



A curious mode of shooting the Canada Goose I have practised with 

 much success. T have sunk in the sand of the bars to which these birds 

 resort at night, a tight hogshead, to within an inch of its upper edges, 

 and placing myself within it at the approach of evening, have drawn over 

 me a quantity of brushwood, placing my gun on the sand, and covering 

 it in like manner with twigs and leaves. The birds would sometimes 

 alight very near me, and in this concealment I have killed several at a 

 shot ; but the stratagem answers for only a few nights in the season. Du- 

 ring severe winters these birds are able to keep certain portions of the 

 deepest parts of a pond quite open and free from ice, by their continued 

 movements in the water ; at all events, such open spaces occasionally oc- 

 cur in ponds and lakes, and are resorted to by the geese, among which 

 great havoc is made. 



It is alleged in the State of Maine that a distinct species of Canada 

 Goose resides there, which is said to be much smaller than the one now 

 under your notice, and is described as resembling it in all other particu- 

 lars. Like the true Canada Goose, it builds a large nest, which it lines 

 with its own down. Sometimes it is placed on the sea-shore, at other 

 times by the margin of a fresh-water lake or pond. That species is dis- 

 tinguished there by the name of Fliglit Goose, and is said to be entirely 

 migratory, whereas the Canada Goose is resident. But, notwithstanding 

 all my exertions, I did not succeed in procuring so much as a feather of 

 this alleged species. 



While we were at Newfoundland, on our return from Labrador, on 

 the 15th August 1833, small flocks of the Canada Goose were already 

 observed flying southward. In that country their appearance is hailed 

 with delight, and great numbers of them are shot. They breed rather 

 abundantly by the lakes of the interior of that interesting country. In 

 the harbour of Great Macatina in Labrador, I saw a large pile of young 



VOL. III. ^ B 



