cal ornithologist, I judged to be not more than fifteen or sixteen months
old. I have therefore thought that in this, as in many other species, a
long series of years is necessary for counteracting the original wild and
free nature which has been given them ; and indeed it seems probable
that our attempts to domesticate many species of wild fowls, which would
prove useful to mankind, have often been abandoned in despair, when a
few years more of constant care might have produced the desired effect.
The Canada Goose, although immediately after the full development
of its young it becomes gregarious, does not seern to be fond of the company
of any other species. Thus, whenever the White-fronted Goose,
the Snow Goose, the Brent Goose, or others, alight in the same ponds, it
forces them to keep at a respectful distance; and during its migrations I
have never observed a single bird of any other kind in its ranks.
The flight of this species of Goose is firm, rather rapid, and capable
of being protracted to a great extent. When once high in the air, they
advance with extreme steadiness and regularity of motion. In rising
from the water or from the ground, they usually run a few feet with outspread
wings; but when suddenly surprised and in full plumage, a single
spring on their broad webbed feet is sufficient to enable them to get
on wing. While travelling to some considerable distance, they pass
through the air at the height of about a mile, steadily following a direct
course towards the point to which they are bound. Their notes are distinctly
heard, and the various changes made in the disposition of their
ranks are easily seen. But although on these occasions they move with
the greatest regularity, yet when they are slowly advancing from south
to north at an early period of the season, they fly much lower, alight
more frequently, and are more likely to be bewildered by suddenly formed
banks of fog, or by passing over cities or arms of the sea where much
shipping may be in sight. On such occasions great consternation prevails
among them, they crowd together in a confused manner, wheel irregularly,
and utter a constant cackling resembling the sounds from a disconcerted
mob. Sometimes the flock separates, some individuals leave the rest, proceed
in a direction contrary to that in which they came, and after a while,
as if quite confused, sail towards the ground, once alighted on which they
appear to become almost stupified, so as to suffer themselves to be shot
with ease, or even knocked down with sticks. This I have known to take
place on many occasions, besides those of which I have myself been a witness.
Heavy snow-storms also cause them great distress, and in the midst
of them some have been known to fly against beacons and lighthouses,
dashing their heads against the walls in the middle of the day. In the
night they are attracted by the lights of these buildings, and now and then
a whole flock is caught on such occasions. At other times their migrations
northward are suddenly checked by a change of weather, the approach
of which seems to be well known to them, for they will suddenly
wheel and fly back in a southern direction several hundred miles. In
this manner I have known flocks to return to the places which they had
left a fortnight before. Nay even during the winter months, they are
keenly sensible to changes of temperature, flying north or south in search
of feeding-grounds, with so much knowledge of the future state of the
weather, that one may be assured when he sees them proceeding southward
in the evening, that the next morning will be cold, and vice versa.
The Canada Goose is less shy when met with far inland, than when
on the sea-coast, and the smaller the ponds or lakes to which they resort,
the more easy it is to approach them. They usually feed in the manner
of Swans and fresh-water Ducks, that is, by plunging their heads towards
the bottom of shallow ponds or the borders of lakes and rivers, immersing
their fore parts, and frequently exhibiting their legs and feet with the
posterior portion of their body elevated in the air. They never dive on
such occasions. If feeding in the fields or meadows, they nip the blades
of grass sidewise, in the manner of the Domestic Goose, and after rainy
weather, they are frequently seen rapidly patting the earth with both
feet, as if to force the earth-worms from their burrows. If they dabble
at times with their bills in muddy water, in search of food, this action is
by no means so common with them as it is with Ducks, the Mallard for
example. They are extremely fond of alighting in corn-fields covered
with tender blades, where they often remain through the night and commit
great havoc. Wherever you find, them, and however remote from
the haunts of man the place may be, they are at all times so vigilant and
suspicious, that it is extremely rare to surprise them. In keenness of
sight and acuteness of hearing, they are perhaps surpassed by no bird
whatever. They act as sentinels towards each other, and during the
hours at which the flock reposes, one or more ganders stand on the watch.
At the sight of cattle, horses, or animals of the deer kind, they are seldom
alarmed, but a bear or a cougar is instantly announced, and if on
such occasions the flock is on the ground near water, the birds immediately
betake themselves in silence to the latter, swim to the middle of