12 CANADA GOOSE. 



the pond or river, and there remain until danger is over. Should their 

 enemies pursue them in the water, the males utter loud cries, and the 

 birds arrano-e themselves in close ranks, rise simultaneously in a few se- 

 conds, and fly off in a compact body, seldom at such times forming lines 

 or ano-les, it being in fact only when the distance they have to travel is 

 o-reat that they dispose themselves in those forms. So acute is their sense 

 of hearino-, that they are able to distinguish the different sounds or foot- 

 steps of their foes with astonishing accuracy. Thus the breaking of a 

 dry stick by a deer is at once distinguished from the same accident occa- 

 sioned by a man. If a dozen of large turtles drop into the water, making 

 a great noise in their fall, or if the same effect is produced by an alligator, 

 the Wild Goose pays no regard to it ; but however faint and distant may 

 be the sound of an Indiana's paddle, that may by accident have struck the 

 side of his canoe, it is at once marked, every individual raises its head 

 and looks intently towards the place from Avhich the noise has proceeded, 

 and in silence all watch the movements of their enemy. 



These birds are extremely cunning also, and should they conceive 

 themselves unseen, they silently move into the tall grasses by the margin 

 of the water, lower their heads, and lie perfectly quiet until the boat has 

 passed by. I have seen them walk off from a large frozen pond into the 

 woods, to elude the sight of the hunter, and return as soon as he had 

 crossed the pond. But should there be snow on the ice or in the woods, 

 they prefer watching the intruder, and take to wing long before he is 

 within shooting distance, as if aware of the ease with which they could be 

 followed by their tracks over the treacherous surface. 



The Canada Geese are fond of returning regularly to the place which 

 they have chosen for resting in, and this they continue to do until they 

 find themselves greatly molested while there. In parts of the country 

 where they :are little disturbed, they seldom go farther than the nearest 

 sandbank or the dry shore of the places in which they feed ; but in other 

 parts they retire many miles to spots of greater security, and of svich ex- 

 tent as w'll enable them to discover danger long before it can reach them. 

 When such a place is found, and proves secure, many flocks resort to it, 

 but alight apart in separate groups. Thus, on some of the great sand- 

 bars of the Ohio, the Mississippi, and other large streams, congregated 

 flocks, often amounting to a thousand individuals, may be seen at the ap- 

 proach of night, which they spend there, lying on the sand within a few 

 feet of each other, every flock having its own sentinel. In the dawn of 



