148 Geese of Europe and Asia 



one of the islands, called Yershan, are situated the favourite haunts of these beautiful 

 geese; and there they assemble in dense throngs before migration. At first 20 to 

 30 together, then 80, 100, 200, and finally all the flocks, unite into one general mass, 

 and leave all together in the beginning of March. Their departure depends, however, 

 on the weather, and when, on March 17, 1880, I visited this locality, I did not find a 

 single red -breasted goose. In one year, at the end of February, at the same spot, 

 on the meadows near the fish -factory, after a heavy fall of snow, more than 200 

 of these splendid birds were caught in a net at once. For this purpose an area of 

 10 to 15 square fathoms was cleared of snow, where the hungry geese alighted, as all 

 the country round was covered with snow. A coarse-meshed net was then cast over them 

 by the concealed fowlers, and the whole flock taken. 



" Unfortunately I arrived too late, and all these birds were sold for a mere song — 

 5 to 10 kopeks each— for down and feathers/' 



Later on Dr. Radde writes: "I had no better luck in the Molokan settlement 

 Astrakhanka, where in the memory of man there had not been so many of these geese 

 as in the winter of 1879- 1880. The flocks were then composed of thousands of birds, and 

 when they got up they darkened the sun, at least so the natives said ; but when I arrived, 

 on March 19, not a bird was left. They were destroyed in such numbers that even the 

 worst shots got more than 200 apiece. They were shot from pits in which the fowlers hid 

 themselves. Only the down and feathers were made use of. 



" Their flesh is dry and tough, and the majority of the birds were extraordinarily lean. 1 



" On February 8/20, after a prolonged blizzard from the north, the first example of this 

 goose was killed in Lenkoran, from a flock of 200 which flew over the town. After deep 

 snow had fallen, the Tatars set their nets on several pools, and some of these geese were 

 taken, which I secured, but unfortunately with rather crushed wings. It is simply 

 astonishing how quietly and resignedly these birds, as also wild swans, behave immediately 

 after they have been deprived of their liberty. Their tameness and trustfulness in captivity 

 are only equalled by their wildness and wariness when free. The Tatars told me that where 

 these geese had once been taken in nets no others would ever alight. They consider the 

 red-breasted geese the wisest of all birds. My captives at first commenced to clean and 

 preen their crumpled feathers, lifting their wings with rather jerky movements, drawing in 

 their heads as they rested, and ruffling up the silky plumage of their crests and necks. 

 Thus they stood in the enclosure, from time to time uttering a very short trumpet-like note ; 

 but when any one approached them they began to hiss. They possess the characteristic 

 dissyllabic goose-cackle, which they employ as a call when seeking each other. I heard it 

 every time they got separated in the garden and wished to find one another again." 



Dr. Radde further relates how, having become used to their situation, these kazarkas 

 showed their curiosity and examined the enclosure with stretched-out necks. 



" They begin to moult at the end of June." 



Lepekhin says of this species : " It becomes as sociable and accustomed to live in 

 houses as it is wild and cautious when free. In a week's time it may be fed from the hand. 

 Its flesh is not disagreeable, and is excessively fat. Its note is quite distinct from that of the 

 domesticated goose, and more like that of a sea-gull." 



Menetries writes almost the same, but in fewer words, with regard to the ease with 



1 Only on this account was their flesh bad ; that of fat specimens is very tender and good eating. Dr. Radde also considere 

 white-front unsavoury ! 



