THE CANADA GOOSE. 193 



bulk, and are much inferior as food to those which visit the interior of the 

 country. None of these, however, are at all to be compared with the 

 goslings bred in the inland districts, and procured in September, when, in 

 my opinion, they far surpass the renowned Canvass-backed Duck. 



A curious mode of shooting the Canada Goose I have practised with much 

 success. I have sunk in the sand of the bars to which these birds resort at 

 night, a tight hogshead, to within an inch of its upper edges, and placing 

 myself within it at the approach of evening, have drawn over me a quantity 

 of brushwood,, placing my gun on the sand, and covering it in like manner 

 with twigs and leaves. The birds would sometimes alight very near me, 

 and in this concealment I have killed several at a shot; but the stratagem 

 answers for only a few nights in the season. During severe winters these 

 birds appear to be able to keep certain portions of the deepest part of a pond 

 quite open and free from ice, by their continued movements in the water; at 

 all events, such open spaces occasionally occur in ponds and lakes, and are 

 resorted to by the Geese, among which great havoc is made. 



While we were at Newfoundland, on our return from Labrador, on the 

 -15th August, 1S33, small flocks of the Canada Goose were already observed 

 flying southward. In that country their appearance is hailed with delight, 

 and great numbers of them are shot. They breed rather abundantly by the 

 lakes of the interior of that interesting country. In the harbour of Great 

 Macatina in Labrador, I saw a large pile of young Canada Geese, that had 

 been procured a few days before, and were already salted for winter use. 

 The pile consisted of several hundred individuals, all of which had been 

 killed before they were able to fly. I was told there that this species fed 

 much on the leaves of the dwarf firs, and, on examining their gizzards, found 

 the statement to be correct. 



The young dive very expertly, soon after their reaching the water, at the 

 least appearance of danger. In the Southern and Western States, the 

 enemies of the Canada Goose are, by water, the alligator, the garfish, and 

 the turtle; and on land, the cougar, the lynx, and the racoon. While in 

 the air, they are liable to be attacked by the White-headed Eagle. It is a 

 very hardy bird, and individuals have been kept in a state of captivity or 

 domestication for upwards of forty years. Every portion of it is useful to 

 man, for besides the value of the flesh as an article of food, the feathers, the 

 quills, and the fat, are held in request. The eggs also afford very good 

 eating. 



Canada Goose, Anas canadensis, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. viii. p. 52. 

 Anser canadensis, Bonap. Syn., p. 377. 



Anser canadensis, Canada Goose, Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. Amer., vol. ii. p. 468. 

 Vol. VI. 26 



