SNOW GOOSE. 
213 
and nibbling the grasses sideways, in the manner of the Common Tame 
Goose. In Louisiana I have not unfrequently seen the adult birds feeding- 
in wheat fields, when they pluck up the plants entire. When the young 
Snow Geese first arrive in Kentucky, about Henderson for instance, they 
are unsuspicious, and therefore easily procured. In a half-dry half-wet pond, 
running across a large tract of land, on the other side of the river, in the 
State of Indiana, and which was once my property, I was in the habit of 
shooting six or seven of a day. This, however, rendered the rest so w r ild, 
that the cunning of any “ Red Skin” might have been exercised without 
success upon them ; and I was sorry to find that they had the power of com- 
municating their sense of danger to .the other flocks which arrived. On 
varying my operations, however, and persevering for some time, I found 
that even the wildest of them now and then suffered ; for having taken it 
into my head to catch them in large traps, I tried this method, and several 
were procured before the rest had learned to seize the tempting bait in a 
judicious manner. 
The Snow Goose affords good eating when young and fat ; but the old 
Ganders are tough and stringy. Those that are procured along the sea 
shores, as they feed on shell-fish, fry, and marine plants, have a rank taste, 
which, however suited to the palate of the epicure, I never could relish. 
The flight of this species is strong and steady, and its migrations over the 
United States are performed at a considerable elevation, by regular flappings 
of the wings, and a disposition into lines similar to that of other Geese. It 
walks well, and with rather elevated steps ; but on land its appearance is not 
so graceful as that of our common Canada Goose. Whilst with us they are 
much more silent than any other of our species, rarely emitting any cries 
unless when pursued on being wounded. They swim buoyantly, and, when 
pressed, with speed. When attacked by the White-headed Eagle, or any 
other rapacious bird, they dive well for a short space. At the least appear- 
ance of danger, when they are on land, they at once come close together, 
shake their heads and necks, move off in a contrary direction, very soon take 
to wing, and fly to a considerable distance, but often return after a time. 
I am unable to inform you at what age the Snow Goose attains its pure 
white plumage, as I have found that a judgment formed from individuals 
kept in confinement is not to be depended upon. In one instance at least, a 
friend of mine who had kept a bird of this species four years, wrote to me 
that he was despairing of ever seeing it become pure white; Two years 
after, he sent me much the same message ; but, at the commencement of the 
next spring, the Goose was a Snow Goose, and the change had taken place 
in less than a month. 
Dr. Richardson informs us that this species “ breeds in the barren grounds 
Yol. YI. 29 
