BStmsH BIRDS. 
^^5 
haunts of men. Thus Marble Ifland was found, in 
Auguft, to fwarm with Swans, Geefe, and Ducks ; 
the old ones moulting, and the young at that time 
incapable of flying. 
The Englilh fend out their fervants, as well as 
Indians, to flioot thefe birds on their paflage. It is 
in vain to purfue them : they therefore form a row 
of huts made of boughs, at mufquet-fliot diftance 
from each other, and place them in a line acrofs 
the vafl marfhes of the country. Each hovel, or, 
as they are called, fiandy is occupied by only a Tin- 
gle perfon. Thefe attend the flight of the birds, 
and, on their approach, mimic their cackle fo well, 
that the Geefe will anfwer, and wheel and come 
nearer the (land. The fportfman keeps motionlefs, 
and on his knees, with his gun cocked, the whole 
time ; and never fires till he has feen the eyes of 
the Geefe. He fires as they are going from him, 
then picks up another gun that lies by him, and 
discharges that. The Geefe which he has killed, 
he fets up on flicks as if alive, to decoy others ; he 
alfo makes artificial birds for the fame purpofe. In 
a good day (for they fly in very uncertain and un- 
equal numbers) a fingle Indian v/ill kill two hun- 
dred. Notwithflanding every fpecies of Goofe has 
a different call, yet the Indians are admirable in 
their imitation of every one. 
“ The vernal flight of the Geefe lafls from the 
middle of April until the middle of May. Their 
