WILD GEESE AND BRANT. 



"AS silly as a goose," is an expression which, though entitled 

 /~\_ to very great respect on account of its antiquity, has long 

 gone out of favor with those gunners who have given much time 

 or attention to the pursuit of these birds, for they are certainly the 

 shyest and least easily imposed upon of any of our wild fowl. 



Yes, Wild Geese, notwithstanding all references to their un- 

 gainly movement and doltish intellect, still maintain their exalted 

 position in the sportsman's estimation, and he, if keen of observe- 

 tion, will learn from them many things that will materially entitle 

 them to advancement in the mental grade, and prove the truth of 

 another very old adage, which specifies that you cannot judge of 

 things by their outward appearance. A goose, waddling around 

 the barnyard, may not present a very graceful appearance, nor 

 seem anything above an idiotically obtuse bird -mentally, yet that 

 ungainly creature, when in its natural state, has an ease of motion 

 in flight which will compare with any of the feathered tribe, and 

 evinces a knowledge of the means of defence, and of escaping the 

 attacks of its enemies that few can excel. There is probably no 

 bird more cautious, vigilant, and apprehensive of danger than this, 

 and these qualities alone should entitle it to more respect than 

 writers unacquainted with its habits have shown when speaking 

 of it, for few carry the objection as far as the table. A round, 

 plump Wild Goose makes a delicious morceau for the palate ; and 

 all the trouble of hunting after it through marshes, morasses, or 

 lakes is amply repaid when its succulent flesh appears upon the 

 table. 



No less than eight well determined species of Geese and Brant 

 inhabit North America, including the Blue Goose Anser cceru- 

 lescens, long regarded as a doubtful species, and considered by 

 older writers the young of the Snow Goose, A. hyperboreus. Be- 

 sides these there are four varieties, so that the list of our geese in 



