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THE WORLD OF LIFE 



Eiver, he saw them returning southward with their young. 

 He writes : 



" I had not gone more than a mile when I heard the cackle of 

 geese ; a bend of the river's bed gave me an opportunity of stalking 

 them, and when I came within sight I beheld an extraordinary and 

 interesting scene. One hundred, at least, old geese, and quite as 



Fig. 14. — Geese Moulting as they migrate South over the Tundra (July 



and August ) . 



many young ones, perhaps twice or even thrice that number, were 

 marching like a regiment of soldiers. The vanguard, consisting of 

 old birds, was half-way across the stream, the rear, composed 

 principally of goslings, was running down the steep bank towards 

 the water's edge as fast as their young legs could carry them. Both 

 banks of the river where the geese had doubtless been feeding, 

 were strewn with feathers, and in five minutes I picked up a 

 handful of quills. The flock was evidently migrating to the 

 interior of the tundra, moulting as it went along." 



This species retires southwards before the winter, and visits 

 us every year in September or October being especially abun- 



