CHAP. XIX THE WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE * 173 



been feeding in the afternoon, instead of taking to the bay every 

 night for its sleeping-quarters. The laughing goose also never 

 appears here in large flocks, but in small companies of from 

 eight or nine to twenty birds. 



Though very watchful at all times, they are more easily 

 approached than the grey goose, and often feed on ground that 

 admits of stalking them. I see them occasionally feeding in 

 small swamps and patches of grass surrounded by high banks, 

 furze, or trees. The grey goose appears to select the most open 

 and extensive fields in the country to feed in, always avoiding 

 any bank or hedge that may conceal a foe. 



On the loth of March last year, when out rabbit-shooting 

 in a small furze cover, I saw a flock of some fifteen or sixteen 

 white-fronted geese hovering over a small clover-field not far 

 from where I was. My attendant, who has a most violent liking 

 for a " wild-goose-chase," immediately caught up the dogs, and 

 made me sit down to watch the birds, who presently pitched, as 

 we expected, on the clover-field. I was for immediately com- 

 mencing the caijipaign against them, but this he would not 

 admit of, and pointing out a part of the field sheltered by a 

 bank overgrown with furze, where the clover was greener than 

 elsewhere, he told me that in ten minutes the birds would be. 

 there. Knowing his experience and cunning in these matters, 

 I put myself entirely under his orders, and waited patiently. 

 The geese, after sitting quietly for a few minutes, and surveying 

 the country around, began to plume their feathers, and this done, 

 commenced feeding in a straight line for the green spot of grass, 

 keeping, however, a constant watch in all directions. " They 

 will be in that hollow in a minute, Sir," said Simon ; " and 

 then. Sir, you must just run for it till you get behind the bank, 

 and then you can easily crawl to within thirty yards of where 

 they will pass." Accordingly, the moment they disappeared in 

 the hollow, I started literally ventre d, terre. One of the wary 

 birds, however, evidently not liking that the whole flock should 

 be in the hollow at once, ran back and took up her station on 

 the rising ground which they had just passed over, where she 

 stood with her neck erect and looking in all directions. I was 

 in full view of her, and at the moment was crossing a wet rushy 

 spot of ground ; nothing was left for it but to lie flat on the 

 ground, notwithstanding the humid nature of my locale ; the 



