415 



This, however, rendered the rest so wild, that the cunning of any ' Red Skin ' might have been 

 exercised without success upon them ; and I was sorry to find that they had the power of 

 communicating their sense of danger to the other flocks which arrived. On varying my opera- 

 tions, however, and persevering for some time, I found that even the wildest of them now and 

 then suffered ; for having taken it into my head to catch them in large traps, I tried this method, 

 and several were procured before the rest had learned to seize the tempting bait in a judicious 

 manner. 



" The Snow-Goose affords good eating when young and fat ; but the old Ganders are tough 

 and stringy. Those that are procured along the sea-shores, as they feed on shell-fish, fry, and 

 marine plants, have a rank taste, which, however suited to the palate of the epicure, I never 

 could relish. 



"The flight of this species is strong and steady; and its migrations over the United States 

 are performed at a considerable elevation, by regular flappings of the wings, and a disposition into 

 lines similar to that of other Geese. It walks well, and with rather elevated steps ; but on land 

 its appearance is not so graceful as that of our Common Canadian Goose. Whilst with us they 

 are much more silent than any other of our species, rarely emitting any cries, unless when 

 pursued on being wounded. They swim buoyantly, and, when pressed, with speed. When 

 attacked by the White-headed Eagle, or any other rapacious bird, they dive well for a short 

 space. At the least appearance of danger, when they are on land, they at once come close 

 together, shake their heads and necks, move off in a contrary direction, very soon take to wing, 

 and fly to a considerable distance, but often return after a time. 



" Dr. Richardson informs us that this species ' breeds in the barren grounds of Arctic 

 America in great numbers. The eggs, of a yellowish-white colour, and regularly ovate form, 

 are a little larger than those of the Eider Duck, their length being three inches, and their 

 greatest breadth two. The young fly in August, and by the middle of September all have 

 departed southward. The Snow-Goose feeds on rushes, insects, and in autumn on berries, par- 

 ticularly those of the Empetrum nigrum. When well fed it is a very excellent bird, far superior 

 to the Canadian Goose in juiciness and flavour. It is said that the young do not attain the full 

 plumage before their fourth year ; and until that period they appear to keep in separate flocks. 

 They are numerous at Albany Fort, in the southern part of Hudson's Bay, where the old birds 

 are rarely seen ; and, on the other hand, the old birds in their migrations visit York Factory in 

 great abundance, but are seldom accompanied by the young. The Snow-Geese make their 

 appearance in spring, a few days later than the Canada Goose, and pass in large flocks both 

 through the interior and on the coast.'" I may here remark that the young birds referred to by 

 Audubon were doubtless Chen ccerulescens, Gmel., which, though by many naturalists considered 

 to be the young of the present bird, is, I am inclined to believe, a good and distinct species. 



The specimen figured is an adult female in the collection of Mr. Howard Saunders. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. Howard Saunders. 

 a, ? ad. Canada. 



E Mus. Cantab. 



a,b, $ . San Mateo, California, January [Hepburn). 



