GREATER SNOW GOOSE. 41 



Hatteras, and along the beaches and inlets of Albemarle 

 Sound, it sometimes congregates in great multitudes. 

 Occasionally flocks of considerable size may be seen on 

 the inner beach of Currituck Sound where the water is 

 brackish, but the birds do not remain any length of time 

 in such situations. They present a beautiful sight as 

 they stand in long lines upon the beach, their pure, im- 

 maculate plumage shining like snow in the sun, against 

 the black mud of the marshes or the dingy hues of the 

 shore. It is very difficult to approach them at such 

 times, as they are exceedingly watchful and wary, but 

 occasionally a few may leave the main body, and, if flying 

 by, will draw perhaps sufficiently near to Geese decoys, 

 or live Geese tied out in front of a blind, to afTord an 

 opportunity for a shot. The chances are better, however, 

 for the sportsman, when these Geese are moving in small 

 flocks of six or seven, as they are then more apt to come 

 near the shore looking for favorable feeding places, or 

 spots on the beach to sand themselves. 



It is a very silent species, and save for exceptional 

 reasons such as becoming alarmed, or when about to 

 migrate, it rarely utters a sound. The bill of this Goose 

 is very strong and highly colored, with the edges of the 

 upper and lower parts widely gaping, giving it a grinning 

 expression, but it is an instrument admirably adapted for 

 the employment given it by the owner, that of forcibly 

 pulling reeds, grasses, etc., up by the roots. Beside the 

 name of Snow Goose, both this species and the allied 

 form are known throughout the land as White Brant. 

 In the " Fur countries " the Greater Snow Goose is 

 called the Common Wavey, also along the Atlantic coast 

 it is known as Red Goose, probably from the color of its 

 bill and legs, and Texas Goose, for no reason that I can 

 see whatever. 



