178 
ANAS CANADENSIS. 
Their first arrival on the coast of New Jersey is 
in October, and their first numerous appearance is 1®. 
sure prognostic of severe weather. Those whi<^ 
continue all winter frequent the shallow bays and w*,', 
islands ; their principal food being the broad tend* 
green leaves of a marine plant which grows on stoO^ 
and shells, and is usually called sea cabbage; and 8**, 
the roots of the sedge, which they are frequei'n' 
observed in the act of tearing up. Every' few 
they make an cxcureion to the inlets on the beach ' 
gravel. They cross, indiscriminately, over land 
water, generally taking the nearest course to 
object ; diftering in thi.s respect from the brant, "b'*' 
will often go a great rvay round by water rather 
cross over the land. They swim well ; and, if 
broken, dive and go a great way under rvater, (ausj'.p 
the sportsman a great deal of fatigue before he carr 
them. Except in very calm weather, they rarely J 
oil the water, but roost all night in the marshes. d [ 
the shallow bay's are frozen, they seek the months; 
inlets near the sea, occasionally visiting the air holr^' 
the ice ; but these bays are seldom so completely 
as to prevent them from feeding on the bars. 
The flight of the wild geese is heavy and labori*’’’", 
generally in a straight line, or in two lines approxinnd'^ 
to a point, thus, t> ; in both ciuses, the van is led by ^|| 
old gander, who, every now and then, pipes his 
known Aon//, as if to ask how they come on, and 
honk of “ all’s well” is generally returned by 
the party*. Their course is in a straight line, with 
exception of the undulations of their flight. ' .jo 
of 
bewildered iu foggy weather, they apjiear sometinn’r 
be in great distress, flying about in an irregular maoi^ ^ 
and for a considerable time, over the same 
making a great clamour. On these occasions, sbo 
they approach the earth, and alight, which they 
times do, to rest and recollect themselves, the 
hospitality they meet with is death and destrnej'^jj 
from a whole ueighbourhood already in arms for t*’ 
