10 CANADA GOOSE. 



cal ornithologist, I judged to be not more than fifteen or sixteen months 

 old. I have therefore thought that in this, as in many other species, a 

 long series of years is necessary for counteracting the original wild and 

 free nature which has been given them ; and indeed it seems probable 

 that our attempts to domesticate many species of wild fowls, which would 

 prove useful to mankind, have often been abandoned in despair, when a 

 few years more of constant care might have produced the desired effect. 



The Canada Goose, although immediately after the full development 

 of its young it becomes gregarious, does not seem to be fond of the com- 

 pany of any other species. Thus, whenever the White-fronted Goose, 

 the Snow Goose, the Brent Goose, or others, ahght in the same ponds, it 

 forces them to keep at a respectful distance ; and during its migrations I 

 have never observed a single bird of any other kind in its ranks. 



The flight of this species of Goose is firm, rather rapid, and capable 

 of being protracted to a great extent. When once high in the air, they 

 advance with extreme steadiness and regularity of motion. In rising 

 from the water or from the ground, they usually run a few feet with out- 

 spread wings ; but when suddenly surprised and in full plumage, a sin- 

 gle spring on their broad webbed feet is sufficient to enable them to get 

 on wino-. While travelling to some considerable distance, they pass 

 through the air at the height of about a mile, steadily following a direct 

 course towards the point to which they are bound. Their notes are dis- 

 tinctly heard, and the various changes made in the disposition of their 

 ranks are easily seen. But although on these occasions they move with 

 the greatest regularity, yet when they are slowly advancing from south 

 to north at an early period of the season, they fly much lower, alight 

 more frequently, and are more likely to be bewildered by suddenly formed 

 banks of fog, or by passing over cities or arms of the sea where much 

 shipping may be in sight. On such occasions great consternation prevails 

 among them, they crowd together in a confused manner, wheel irregularly, 

 and utter a constant cackling resembling the sounds from a disconcerted 

 mob. Sometimes the flock separates, some individuals leave the rest, pro- 

 ceed in a direction contrary to that in which they came, and after a while, 

 as if quite confused, sail towards the ground, once alighted on which they 

 appear to become almost stupified, so as to suffer themselves to be shot 

 with ease, or even knocked down with sticks. This I have known to take 

 place on many occasions, besides those of which I have myself been a wit- 

 ness. Heavy snow-storms also cause them great distress, and in the midst 



