CANADA GOOSE. ^y l 



to be frozen for the fresh provisions of the winter stock. The 

 feathers constitute an article of commerce, and are sent to 

 Erjgland. 



The vernal flight of the geese lasts from the middle of April 

 until the middle of May. Their first appearance coincides 

 with the thawing of the swamps, when they are very lean. 

 Their arrival from the south is impatiently attended ; it is the 

 harbinger of the spring, and the month named by the Indians 

 the goose-moon. They appear usually at their settlements 

 about St George's Day, O.S., and fly northward, to nestle in 

 security. They prefer islands to the continent, as farther from 

 the haunts of man.* 



After such prodigious havoc as thus appears to be made 

 among these birds, and their running the gauntlet, if I may 

 so speak, for many hundreds of miles through such destructive 

 fires, no wonder they should have become more scarce, as 

 well as shy, by the time they reach the shores of the United 

 States. 



Their first arrival on the coast of New Jersey is early in 

 October, and their first numerous appearance is the sure 

 prognostic of severe weather. Those which continue all winter 

 frequent the shallow bays and marsh islands ; their principal 

 food being the broad tender green leaves of a marine plant 

 which grows on stones and shells, and is usually called sea- 

 cabbage ; and also the roots of the sedge, which they are 

 frequently observed in the act of tearing up. Every few days 

 they make an excursion to the inlets on the beach for gravel. 

 They cross indiscriminately over land or water, generally 

 taking the nearest course to their object, differing in this 

 respect from the brant, which will often go a great way round 

 by water rather than cross over the land. They swim well ; 

 and, if wing-broken, dive and go a long way under water, 

 causing the sportsman a great deal of fatigue before he can 

 kill them. Except in very calm weather, they rarely sleep 

 on the water, but roost all night in the marshes. When the 

 * Arctic Zoology. 



