54 NOTES ON NEW ENGLAND BIRDS 



other, as it were breasting the air and pushing if before 

 them. It made you think of the streams of Cayster, 

 etc., etc. They carry weight, such a weight of metal in 

 the air. Their dark waved outline as they disappear. 

 The grenadiers of the air. Man pygmifies himself at 

 sight of these inhabitants of the air. These stormy days 

 they do not love to fly ; they alight in some retired 

 marsh or river. From their lofty pathway they can easily 

 spy out the most extensive and retired swamp. How 

 many there must be, that one or more flocks are seen 

 to go over almost every farm in New England in the 

 spring ! 



Nov. 25, 1852. At Walden. — I hear at sundown 

 what I mistake for the squawking of a hen, — for they 

 are firing at chickens hereabouts, 1 — but it proved to 

 be a flock of wild geese going south. This proves how 

 much the voices of all fowls are alike. 



JVov. 29, 1852. Geese in river swam as fast as I 

 walked. 



March 26, 1853. Saw about 10 a. m. a gaggle of geese, 

 forty-three in number, in a very perfect harrow flying 

 northeasterly. One side of the harrow was a little 

 longer than the other. They appeared to be four or 

 five feet apart. At first I heard faintly, as I stood by 

 Minott's gate, borne to me from the southwest through 

 the confused sounds of the village, the indistinct honk- 

 ing of geese. I was somewhat surprised to find that 

 Mr. Loring at his house should have heard and seen 

 the same flock. I should think that the same flock was 

 commonly seen and heard from the distance of a mile 

 1 [A Thanksgiving-Day chicken-shoot.] 



