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"Steering north, with raucous cry,
Through tracts and provinces of sky,
Every night alighting down
In new landscapes of romance,
Where darkling feed the clamorous clans
By lonely lakes to men unknown."
NORTH America at large is the range of this magnificent bird. Common Wild
Goose and Grey Goose are its other names, and by which it is generally
known. The Canada Goose is by far the most abundant and universally
distributed of all North American Geese, and in one or other of its
varieties is found in all the states and territories of our country except
perhaps Florida and the Gulf States. In Texas, however, it is plentiful
during the winter months. According to Hallock, although by far the greater
portion of Wild Geese which pass the winter with us, go north to breed,
still in suitable localities young are reared all over the United States
from North Carolina to Canada. They nest in the wilder parts of Maine, and
are especially numerous in Newfoundland near the secluded pools and streams
so abundant throughout that island. There, remote from man, they breed
undisturbed on the edges and islands of the ponds and lakes. The Geese
moult soon after their arrival in the spring, and, says Hallock, owing to
the loss of their pinion feathers are unable to fly during the summer or
breeding seasons, but they can run faster than a man on the marshes, or if
surprised at or near a pond, they will plunge in and remain under water
with their bills only above the surface to permit breathing, until the
enemy has passed by. They feed on berries and the seeds of grasses. Both
the old and young become enabled to fly in September, and as soon after
that as the frost affects the berries, and causes the seeds of the grasses
on the marshes and savannas to fall to the earth, or otherwise when the
snow falls and covers the ground, they collect in flocks and fly off to the
southern shores of the island, and from thence to the Gulf of St. Lawrence,
where they remain until December, and then assembled, take flight in
immense flocks to the southern parts of America, to return in the spring.
The Canada Goose also breeds in great numbers on the Mississipi river, in
which region it often places its nest in trees, choosing generally a
cottonwood stub not more than thirty feet in height. The young are said to
be carried from the nest to the water in the mother's bill, as are the
young of the Wood Duck. (See BIRDS, vol. ii, p. 21).
The Wild Goose is often domesticated, and in many portions of the country
they are bred in considerable numbers. When these birds return south at the
commencement of winter they are generally very thin and poor, being quite
worn out by their long journey. They soon recuperate, however, and in a
short time become fat and are delicious eating. A full and excellent
account of the method of capturing the Canada Goose may be found in
Hallock's "Gazetteer."
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