The Canada Goose. 
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regards food— -some think more so. As the rich and somewhat gross character of the flesh of 
geese is an objection to many persons, the Canada Goose may be recommended to all such as well 
worth a trial. 
If the wide distribution of the Grey-lag and Bean Goose is remarkable, that of the Canada 
Goose is almost equally so. It has often been shot in Britain, proving its powers of flight to be 
very great. In Cambridgeshire large flocks have been seen ; and in the more northern parts of 
England small colonies have been known to settle and to breed. In sagacity and courage the 
gander appears to surpass the common goose, though even this bird is the very opposite in 
character to the reputation it popularly bears, being pre-eminent among the poultry tribes for 
both intelligence, and faithful courage in defending his family. Audubon gives various instances 
of similar qualities in the Canada Goose. “ I knew a male,” he says, “that appeared larger than 
usual, and of which all the lower parts were of a rich cream-colour. It returned three years in 
succession to a large pond a few miles from the mouth of the Green River, in Kentucky, and 
whenever I visited the nest it seemed to look upon me with utter contempt. It would stand 
in a stately attitude until it reached within a few yards of the nest, when, suddenly lowering 
its head and shaking it, as if it were dislocated from the neck, it would open its wings and launch 
into the air, flying directly at me. So daring was this fine fellow, that in two instances he struck 
me a blow with one of his wings on the right arm, which for an instant I thought was broken. I 
observed that immediately after such an effort to defend his nest and mate, he would run swiftly 
towards them, pass his head and neck several times over and around the female, and again assume 
his attitude of defiance. Should danger be imminent, the brave gander urges his mate to fly off, 
and resolutely remains near the nest till he is assured of her safety, when he betakes himself to 
flight, mocking as it were by his notes his disappointed enemy.” 
As an instance of the creature’s sagacity take the following, also from Audubon : — “ They are 
able to distinguish the different sounds or footsteps of their foes with astonishing accuracy. Thus, 
the breaking of a stick by a deer is distinguished from the same accident occasioned by a man. 
If a dozen large turtles drop into the water, making a great noise in their fall, or if the same effect 
has been produced by an alligator, the wild [Canada] goose pays no regard to it ; but however 
faint and distant may be the sound of an Indian’s paddle that may by accident have struck the 
side of his canoe, it is at once marked ; every individual raises its head, and looks intently towards 
the place from which the noise has proceeded ; and in silence all watch the movements of their 
enemy. I was much surprised one day, while on the coast of Labrador, to see how cunningly one 
of these birds, which in consequence of the moult was quite unable to fly, managed for awhile to 
elude our pursuit. It was first perceived at some distance from the shore, when the boat was 
rowed towards it, and it swam before us with great speed, making directly towards the land ; but 
when we came within a few yards of it, it dived, and nothing could be seen of it for a long time. 
Every one of the party stood on tip-toe, to mark the spot where it should rise, but all in vain ; 
when the man at the rudder accidentally looked down over the stern, and then saw the goose, its 
body immersed, the point of its bill alone above water, and its feet busily engaged in propelling 
it so as to keep pace with the movements of the boat. The sailor attempted to catch it while 
within a foot or two of him, but with the swiftness of thought it shifted from side to side, fore and 
aft, until, delighted at having witnessed so much sagacity in a goose, I begged the party to suffer 
the poor bird to escape.” 
The Canada Goose has been seen within the Arctic Circle in summer, and even then was 
winging its way farther north. Captain Phipps found them in Spitzbergen ; and through the 
whole of the Hudson’s Bay Territory they form a most important part of the season’s food. The 
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