GENUS 97. ANAS. DUCK. 
SPECIES 1 . rdN^S C^N^DENSIS. 
CANADA GOOSE. 
[Plate LXVIL— Fig. 4.] 
VOxje suuvage de Canada, Briss. vi, p . 272, 4, pi. 26. — UOie a 
cvavate, Bufk. ix, p. 82. — Ewd. pi. 151. — .Bret. Zool. JVb. 471. 
— Catesby,!, 92. — Lath. Syn. in, p. 430 . — Peai.e’s Muse- 
um, m. 2704.* 
This is the common Wild Goose of the United States, uni- 
versally known over the whole country; whose regular perio- 
dical migrations are the sure signals of returning spring, or ap- 
proaching winter. The tracts of their vast migratory journies 
are not confined to the seacoast or its vicinity. In their aerial 
voyages to and from the north, these winged pilgrims pass 
over the interior on both sides of the mountains, as far west, 
at least, as the Osage river, and I have never yet visited any 
quarter of the country where the inhabitants are not familiarly 
acquainted with the regular passing and repassing of the Wild 
Geese. The general opinion here is that they are on their way 
to the lakes to breed; but the inhabitants on the confines of the 
great lakes that separate us from Canada, are equally ignorant 
with ourselves of the particular breeding places of those birds. 
There their journey north is but commencing, and how far it 
extends it is impossible for us at present to ascertain, from our 
little acquaintance with these frozen regions. They were seen 
by Hearne in large flocks within the arctic circle, and were then 
pursuing their way still farther north. Captain Phipps speaks 
* Aiuib Canadensis, Gmel. Sijst i, p. 514. — PI. Enl. 346. — Ind. Orn. p. 83S, 
No. 17. 
