THE CANADA GOOSE 265 
times of peace they are nearly as graceful as 
the swan. As to their intellect—let their de- 
tractors try to get within killing distance and 
see for themselves who is the smarter. 
Many are shot from blinds in the fresh water 
ponds with live decoys anchored along the 
shores,—some old wing-tipped veterans whose 
wounds have been cured and the birds more 
than half domesticated for this purpose. They 
take very kindly to civilised ways and tame in 
a wonderfully short time. After a week of cap- 
tivity the wildest goose will become so tame 
that it will almost have to be kicked from under 
foot in the yards. When left to their own de- 
vices and not too much assisted in their house- 
keeping affairs they breed readily in their new 
surroundings. Most of the decoys for the 
shooting are thus obtained. Very rarely a bird 
tamed to the semi-domestic state is influenced 
by the migratory instinct to depart with its 
wild kindred. But perhaps more would be lost 
from this cause if they were not in most cases 
‘“pinioned.’’ 
Not a goose can fly over the horizon that 
these decoys do not see, and the gander will try 
his most alluring arts and most enticing music 
