Cong don—Saskatchewan Birds. 589 
and joined her mate out on the lake. The nest is shown in 
Plate XLIV. 
At Middle Lake, on May 29, three nests were found contain- 
ig four, six, and nine eggs respectively. The nest containing 
six eggs was situated near the central part of a low island. It 
was placed in a clump of very low bushes and close by a log and 
stump. Its presence was betrayed by the bird’s flying up as 
the nest was approached. Grass and a few pieces of rotten wood 
were used in its construction, the lining being of grass and down. 
The eggs were advanced in incubation. On a low but dry 
island, about two rods across, was situated the nest containing 
nine eggs. It was built within two feet of the water’s edge, but, 
as the water of the lake had recently risen, it is probable that 
it had been originally farther from the water. This nest was 
similar to the others but had only a little down in the lining. 
The eggs were far advanced in incubation. The bird left the 
nest as the island was approached and, alighting in the water a 
short distance away, was joined by her mate. They kept up 
their honking for some time. 
The Canada Geese are early nesters and generally the eggs 
are laid soon after the ice is gone out of the lakes in the spring. 
On M|ay 27, six yellow, downy little goslings two or three days 
old were caught along the shores of Glen Lake and taken to a 
ranch house. Two or three of them lived to reach maturity. 
There seems to be considerable range in the nesting time, how¬ 
ever, for eggs not more than half incubated were taken as late 
as May 29. 
The position of the nest was usually betrayed by the goose 
flying from the spot, uttering the peculiar honk-honk. Some¬ 
times the goose was seen leaving the island before a landing was 
made. Through the nesting season flocks of five or six birds 
were observed flying from place to place to feed. It is probable 
that these birds were the young of the two previous seasons; for, 
it is held that the goose does not lay until it is three years old. 
The birds are rather wary and frequently two or three indi¬ 
viduals would be seen waddling ofl across the prairie or through 
the long grass of a marshy place, with their long necks stretched 
and heads up, watching every move of the intruder. 
The eggs of the Clanada Goose are a soiled white in color. 
E'ggs taken in this locality were much larger at one end, and 
rather pointed at the other. The average size of twenty eggs 
