the pond or river, and there remain until danger is over. Should their
enemies pursue them in the water, the males utter loud cries, and the
birds arrange themselves in close ranks, rise simultaneously in a few seconds,
and fly off in a compact body, seldom at such times forming lines
or angles, it being in fact only when the distance they have to travel is
great that they dispose themselves in those forms. So acute is their sense
of hearing, that they are able to distinguish the different sounds or footsteps
of their foes with astonishing accuracy. Thus the breaking of a
dry stick by a deer is at once distinguished from the same accident occasioned
by a man. If a dozen of large turtles drop into the water, making
a great noise in their fall, or if the same effect is produced by an alligator,
the Wild Goose pays no regard to i t ; but however faint and distant may
be the sound of an Indian's paddle, that may by accident have struck the
side of his canoe, it is at once marked, every individual raises its head
and looks intently towards the place from which the noise has proceeded,
and in silence all watch the movements of their enemy.
These birds are extremely cunning also, and should they conceive
themselves unseen, they silently move into the tall grasses by the margin
of the water, lower their heads, and lie perfectly quiet until the boat has
passed by. I have seen them walk off from a large frozen pond into the
woods, to elude the sight of the hunter, and return as soon as he had
crossed the pond. But should there be snow on the ice or in the woods,
they prefer watching the intruder, and take to wing long before he is
within shooting distance, as if aware of the ease with which they could be
followed by their tracks over the treacherous surface.
The Canada Geese are fond of returning regularly to the place which
they have chosen for resting in, and this they continue to do until they
find themselves greatly molested while there. In parts of the country
where they are little disturbed, they seldom go farther than the nearest
sandbank or the dry shore of the places in which they feed; but in other
parts they retire many miles to spots of greater security, and of such extent
as will enable them to discover danger long before it can reach them.
When such a place is found, and proves secure, many flocks resort to it,
but alight apart in separate groups. Thus, on some of the great sandbars
of the Ohio, the Mississippi, and other large streams, congregated
flocks, often amounting to a thousand individuals, may be seen at the approach
of night, which they spend there, lying on the sand within a few
feet-of each other, every flock having its own sentinel. In the dawn of
next morning they rise on their feet, arrange and clean their feathers,
perhaps walk to the water to drink, and then depart for their feeding
grounds.
When I first went to the Falls of the Ohio, the rocky shelvings of
which are often bare for fully half a mile, thousands of wild geese of this
species rested there at night. The breadth of the various channels that
separate the rocky islands from either shore, and the rapidity of the currents
which sweep along them, render this place of resort more secure
than most others. The wild geese still betake themselves to these islands
during winter for the same purpose, but their number has become very
small; and so shy are these birds at present in the neighbourhood' of
Louisville, that the moment they are disturbed at the ponds where they
go to feed each morning, were it but by the report of a single gun, they
immediately return to their rocky asylums. Even there, however, they
are by no means secure, for it not unfrequently happens that a flock
alights within half gunshot of a person concealed in a pile of drifted wood,
whose aim generally proves too true for their peace. Nay, I knew a gentleman,
who had a large mill opposite Rock Island, and who used to kill
the poor geese at the distance of about a quarter of a mile, by means of
a small cannon heavily charged with rifle bullets; and, if I recollect truly,
Mr TARASCON in this manner not unfrequently obtained a dozen or more
geese at a shot. This was done at dawn, when the birds were busily engaged
in trimming their plumage with the view of flying off in a few minutes
to their feeding grounds. This war of extermination could not last
long : the geese deserted the fatal rock, and the great gun of the mighty
miller was used only for a few weeks.
While on the water> the Canada Goose moves with considerable grace,
and in its general deportment resembles the wild Swan, to which I think
it is nearly allied. If wounded in the wing, they sometimes dive to a
small depth, and make off with astonishing address, always in the direction
of the shore, the moment they reach which, you see them sneakingthrough
the grass or bushes, their necks extended an inch or so above the
ground, and in this manner proceeding so silently, that, unless closely
watched, they are pretty sure to escape. If shot at and wounded while
on the ice, they immediately walk off in a dignified manner, as if anxious
to make you believe that they have not been injured, emitting a loud note
all the while; but the instant they reach the shore they become silent,
and make off in the manner described. I was much surprised one dayv