136 Canadian Record of Science. 
of 1848, and in the spring of 1851, near the mouth of the 
Coppermine River when I was there, and not being difficult 
of approach, I shot a good many. Those killed in the 
spring were very fat. 
Perhaps | may mention that it is, especially to the 
sportsman or naturalist, a very pretty sight to see the 
snow and blue-winged goose (wavy) arrive at the marshes 
of James’ Bay, after their long flight from their breeding 
place. A strong breeze of northerly wind usually accom- 
panies their advent, and their call is generally heard before 
they are seen, high up in the air, going at express railway 
speed. Suddenly several of the leaders of the flock, no 
doubt old birds, make a dive downwards, apparently in the 
most frantic and reckless manner, followed by others in a 
more or less adroit manner, making a great cackling all 
the time, until the whole have got pretty low down, when 
haying fixed upon a resting place, they wheel, round head 
to wind, and alight on the marsh. Flock follows flock, 
all going through similar manceuvres, each new. arrival 
being received with noisy and hearty congratulations of 
welcome by their predecessors. 
It may not be out of place to notice, that I do not think 
any snow or blue-winged geese breed on any part of the 
shores of Arctic America proper lying west of Hudson’s 
Bay and east of the McKenzie, unless it be in some large 
marshes near the mouth of that great river on the Melville 
Peninsula, whereas most of, if not all, the blue-winged 
“wavies” breed on lands and islands east of Hudson’s Bay. 
