118 THE COMPLETE WILDFOWLER 
strong winds they always fly high. Should a fall of snow 
occur before the supply of food on the stubbles is exhausted, 
the geese resort to feed on the grassy islands and foreshores of 
the upper Humber. Under favourable conditions of weather I 
have known one shooter with a shoulder gun to bag twenty- 
three geese in a single night on an island in the Humber. 
The main body of geese arrive from their northern homes 
about the third week in October. In November they are seen 
in very large flocks. ‘Towards Christmas their numbers seem 
to decrease according to the weather; after Christmas they 
begin to increase again. In February they are very numerous, 
and frequent the Humber day and night. I have seen about 
two thousand in one flock. By the latter end of April all the 
geese have gone except the ‘‘pricked” birds. The earliest 
date I have noticed for their arrival is September 22, 1903— 
four days earlier than any previously observed. 
Yorkshire has always been noted for its wild geese. At 
one time the grey lag bred in the Carrs of Holderness. After 
the south-eastern parts of Holderness were cultivated (but not 
enclosed) large flocks of geese came in the autumn and again 
in the spring. These birds are supposed to have been the 
Bean goose, and there is reason to believe they were of this 
species. At the mouth of the Humber Brent geese occur 
every year, though never in large numbers except in severe 
winters. The largest flock I have seen there numbered about 
three hundred. They would not allow our punt to approach 
them. Of the rare geese, Yorkshire holds a few records, the 
chief being the red-breasted goose. The white-fronted goose 
has repeatedly occurred. The snow goose from North America 
has been noted as seen in the county at least on two occa- 
sions. 
My experience of grey goose shooting has been varied. 
Although at certain seasons, under favourable conditions, 
good sport has been enjoyed with these birds in the Humber, 
