214 The Water-fowl Family 



tour to the farther shore. It was a long way off, 

 almost four miles, but there was plenty to watch. 

 Every few minutes flocks of ducks would pass 

 over us in range, but we let them go. Gulls cir- 

 cled around, crying at the unusual sight of two 

 men with guns. We looked over at the geese. 

 At times cattle seemed almost among them ; yet 

 the white assembly did not move, and we only 

 heard them when a flock was about to alight to 

 those on the ground. The horses were getting 

 closer, and finally a part of the body started, to 

 settle down a little farther on. But presently a 

 tumultuous clamor, and the entire company was 

 in motion. Line after line separated and led out 

 into the lake. Some followed the opposite shore ; 

 an immense flock led toward our clump, and we 

 crouched in the water. On they came, scarcely a 

 hundred yards off. But geese are uncertain, even 

 in Mexico, and, for some reason best known to 

 themselves, they turned when just out of range 

 and led toward the shore beyond us. In a few 

 minutes they were reassembled and the imme- 

 diate prospect of a shot gone. The Mexican, with 

 his string of horses, continued down the opposite 

 side, evidently after birds we could not see. Ducks 

 were around us all the time, and flocks drifted by 

 within easy range, unmolested. Before long we 

 heard the familiar cry, and looked to see a mass 

 of white heading for the flock on the shore; our 



