(- «62 )
• SNOW 60«S'E.
. Axsna UYPERBORECS, HOXAP.
I ' L . V I ' K C(.'(;I.XX..\I. M» I .K AM'. Y . « !,-.; FKMAI.K.
THE pographieal rango'lJf ' iho '-¡jjhwSfê" Goose extensive.
It has been observed in numerous flocks,'tfanllling northward, by the
mfefflilëps of the recent fverland expeditions. On the: other hand, I
have found it in the Texas, and ît'ïs'very abundant oil'the Columbia
R i v f | together with Hutchins's Gooke. In the latter part of autumn,
and during winter, J have met with it in every part of the United States
that. I 'hitvi* vùitSjJW
While residing ar Henderson I n the Ohio, I never failed to wateh
the arrival o'f this and other species in the ponds $P the neighbourhood,
and generally found the young Sno-w Geese to mate tlicir appearance in
the beginning SfOfetober, and the adult or white birds abolit a fortnight
later. In like manner, when migrating northward, although, the 'young
and thf; adult birds Séiout at the same time, they travel in separate
flocks, and, according to Captain Sfr G E O B G E BACK, continué to do so
éven when proceeding to the higher northern latitude:® our continent.
It is not less curious that, during the whole of tile winter, thssf Geése
remain equally dividi«ir<Vmvj¥Vo!md in thé same localities ; and
although young and old are often seen to repose oti the same sand-bar,
the flocks keep ar as great a distance as possible.
The Snow (iobsd'in the greysta™ of its plumage is very abundant
in winter, about the mouths of the Mississippi, as well ¿is on all the
muddy and grassy shrtrc* of the bay's and inlets of the Gulf of Mexico,
as far a,- the: Texas, arid probably still farther to the south-west. During
the rainy season, it betakes itself to the large prairies of Attacapas
and Oppellousas, and there young and adult procure their food together,
along with several speoiejof Ducks, Herons, and (,'ranos, feeding, like
the latter, on the roots of plants,, and nibbling' the grasses, sideways, in
the manner of the Common Tame Goose.1 In I.ouisiana I have not
unfreijuetit h seen the: adult birds feeding in «heat fields, when thoy
pluck up the plants entire.
When the young Snow Geese first arrive in Kentucky, about Hen-
SNOVV .GOOSE. 563
dersop for instance, t h ^ are unsuspicious, and therefore easily procured.
In a half-dry luilf-wot pond, running ¡acrossa large tract of land, on the
other side of the river3 in the .State.of Indiana, and which was once my
property, I jsfas in the ,habitsj| •shooting six or seven of a^day. This,
however, rendered the rest so wild, that the cunning of any " Red Skin"
might have Ivooji exencised without success upon .them; and I was sorry
to find that they bad the power of .communicating their sense of danger
to the other Hocks which arrived. .On varying my operations however,
and persevering for some time, I found that even the wildest of them
• BOW and,than suiiored; . for having taken it ipto my head to catch them
in large: trap-, I,tried, this method, and several were procured before
the rest had learned .Jj^jsoijse the tempting bait in a judicious manner.
The: Snow,Goo^e »tVoj;ds .good eating «¡hen young and fat; but the
old Ganders are tough and stringy. Those that are, procured along
ite;9®'gjiPirgs,,,fts.theyjfoei shell-fish, fry .and marine plants, have
a rank tasto, which, bojreyex suited. to,the palate of the epicure, I never
;could .relish.
• flight of this ..species Is .strong and steady, audits migrations
over the United States are perfoimed at a considerable .elevation, by
Regular flappingsiaf the wings, and a disposition into lines similar to
that of .otliqr.,Geese. • It,walks well, and with rather elevated steps ;
but on land its .appcaranri! is not so graceful as-that of our common
Canada ..Goose. Whilst .with us .they are .much more silent than any
••Other: uf 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 Kaglo, or any other rapacious
bird, titer di.vo well : ia short space. At the least appearance of
danger,, when thoy are on land, they at onee:<somo Close together, shake
their heads and necks, mo.vootf in a. contrary direction, very soon take
tfl wing, and fly, to a considerable distance, but often return after a
tiwgajiij
I am unable to .inform you at .what age the Snow Goose attains its
,,pu®e while,plumage, as, I ha-ve..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 alter, he sent mo much the same message;