56 



CANADA GOOSE 



the air holes in the ice; but these bays are seldom so completely 

 frozen as to prevent them from feeding on the bars. 



The flight of the Wild Geese is heavy and laborious, gene- 

 rally in a straight line, or in two lines approximating to a point, 

 thus, r> ; in both cases the van is led by an old gander, who every 

 now and then pipes his well known honkj as if to ask how they come 

 on, and the honk of " all 's welF' is generally returned by some of 

 the party. Their course is in a straight line, with the exception 

 of the undulations of their flight. When bewildered in foggy 

 weather, they appear sometimes to be in great distress, flying 

 about in an irregular manner, and for a considerable time over the 

 same quarter, making a great clamour. On these occasions should 

 they approach the earth, and alight, which they sometimes do, to 

 rest and recollect themselves, the only hospitality they meet with 

 is death and destruction from a whole neighbourhood already in 

 arms for their ruin. 



Wounded Geese have, in numerous instances, been completely 

 domesticated, and readily pair with the tame Grey Geese. The 

 offspring are said to be larger than either; but the characteristic 

 marks of the Wild Goose still predominate. The gunners on the 

 sea shore have long been in the practice of taming the wounded 

 of both sexes, and have sometimes succeeded in getting them to 

 pair and produce. The female always seeks out the most solitary 

 place for her nest, not far from the water. On the approach of 

 every spring, however, these birds discover symptoms of great un- 

 easiness, frequently looking up into the air, and attempting to go 

 off. Some whose wings have been closely cut, have travelled on 

 foot in a northern direction, and have been found at the distance of 

 several miles from home. They hail every flock that passes over- 

 head, and the salute is sure to be returned by the voyagers, who 

 are only prevented from alighting among them by the presence 

 and habitations of man. The gunners take one or two of these 

 domesticated Geese with them to those parts of the marshes over 



