SNOW GOOSE. 131 



are seldom seen on the water, except in the night or 

 when niouUing. AVhcn well fed the flesh is excellent, 

 being far superior to the Canada Goose in juiciness 

 and flavour." 



They are also very abundant in Siberia^ forming an 

 article of subsistence to the natives, by whom they 

 are taken in decoys in great numbers, which are buried 

 in the earth, and being frozen, keep very well, thus 

 preserved, till they are "wanted for the table." 



Mr. Barnston has, in the article from which I have 

 before quoted, given a very interesting account of the 

 migration of these and other Geese, and of their great 

 slaughter by the natives. He calculates, and gives the 

 basis of his calculation, that, excluding the Brent 

 Goose, nearly eight hundred thousand Geese leave the 

 coasts east of the Rocky Mountains for the place of 

 their hybernation. Supposing that each Goose flies 

 one yard apart, this would give a string four hundred 

 and fifty miles long, and supposing "the rate of flight 

 was forty miles an hour, and the line led by one 

 going straight south, they would take eleven hours in 

 passing any given object." Of this number he calcu- 

 lates that sixty thousand are shot at the various 

 stations. 



"In the fall, on some days, when the flocks of 

 young Wavics are numerous, and passing southwards, 

 it is no uncommon thing for a good shot to send one 

 hundred to his lodge between sunset and sunrise. In 

 such cases he generally has two guns in the willow 

 and grass stand or concealment, and his wife or son 

 loads while he attends to the motions of the Geese, 

 brings them round to the bush or wooden decoys by 

 calling, and fires as they pass. These Geese form the 

 staple article of food for rations at the Albany factory. 



