THE CANADA GOOSE. 
193 
bulk, and are much inferior as food to those which visit the interior of the 
country. None of these, however, are at all to be compared with the 
goslings bred in the inland districts, and procured in September, when, in 
my opinion, they far surpass the renowned Canvass-backed Duck. 
A curious mode of shooting the Canada Goose I have practised with much 
success. I have sunk in the sand of the bars to which these birds resort at 
night, a tight hogshead, to within an inch of its upper edges, and placing 
myself within it at the approach of evening, have drawn over me a quantity 
of brushwood, placing my gun on the sand, and covering it in like manner 
with twigs and leaves. The birds would sometimes alight very near me, 
and in this concealment I have killed several at a shot ; but the stratagem 
answers for only a few nights in the season. During severe winters these 
birds appear to be able to keep certain portions of the deepest part of a pond 
quite open and free from ice, by their continued movements in the water ; at 
all events, such open spaces occasionally occur in ponds and lakes, and are 
resorted to by the Geese, among which great havoc is made. 
While we were at Newfoundland, on our return from Labrador, on the 
15th August, 1833, small flocks of the Canada Goose were already observed 
flying southward. In that country their appearance is hailed with delight, 
and great numbers of them are shot. They breed rather abundantly by the 
lakes of the interior of that interesting country. In the harbour of Great 
Macatina in Labrador, I saw a large pile of young Canada Geese, that had 
been procured a few days before, and were already salted for winter use. 
The pile consisted of several hundred individuals, all of which had been 
killed before they were able to fly. I was told there that this species fed 
much on the leaves of the dwarf firs, and, on examining their gizzards, found 
the statement to be correct. 
The young dive very expertly, soon after their reaching the water, at the 
least appearance of danger. In the Southern and Western States, the 
enemies of the Canada Goose are, by water, the alligator, the garfish, and 
the turtle ; and on land, the cougar, the lynx, and the racoon. While in 
the air, they are liable to be attacked by the White-headed Eagle. It is a 
very hardy bird, and individuals have been kept in a state of captivity or 
domestication for upwards of forty years. Every portion of it is useful to 
man, for besides the value of the flesh as an article of food, the feathers, the 
quills, and the fat, are held in request. The eggs also afford very good 
sating. 
Canada Goose, Anas canadensis , Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. viii. p. 52. 
Anser canadensis, Bonap. Syn., p. 311. 
Anser canadensis, Canada Goose , Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. Amer., vol. ii. p. 468. 
Yol. ¥ 1 . 26 
