Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-10-27
Wild Geese in The West.

evade the random shot of the huntcr returning
to camp after hard days work. So attached
are they to their old grounds, and so liable to
be pursued at nigh by reckless adventures,
that after few warnings they battle the most
Intelligent. Should their line of entry be dis
covered tonight as they come across the marsh
from the south, TOMORROW night, II you watch
you may hear the vibration OF their wings as
they pass over the timber TO the Dorth, in their
approach TO the old rice pond or open water OF
the big slough. Upon all other occasions, aud
also when disturbed, they exhibit their usual
propensity TO Indulge in gabbe and gousc-taIk.
The most prominent among the varieties IN
the west is the Canada goose The next, aud
existing in great numbers, is the white irontcd
or aughiDg goose, called by many "braut.
OF the regular brent goose we have but few.
| We killed one out Of 4 flock in the liIlnnls river
III 1860, Oh sand bar, aud believe il is the
only flock we ever saw in that valley. The
bren,-go is about half the size of the Cana
da variety aud Is about two thirds as large
! as the white irontcd notified, or laug hing
goose. But iu the absence of the regular brent
goose, the notified bird, known as the laugh
ing goose carries the name of brant. And braut
it is, SO far as the average shooter Is lOtormc]t;
for few Of thelu have ever seen brent goes,
and this is the only bird, which, to their know
ledge, ever bore the name. These same TEL
lows call a partridge pheasant, and an Eng
| llsh snlpe Il Wuodc0ck.
1t is amusing to watch flock OF laughing
geese as they approach tavorte feeding
ground or i rcs'us place. They come first 10
the regular acute auglc line OF flight Sudden
| ly they break ranks and with Que accord the
whole hyck bcgiuS !. series Of cvolutons, tumb'
lug, and turning high 10 air. and then de-
sccDdiEg in most couical and irregular map
per, to the amusement of the observer, all the
while INDUCING in jabhcr more resembling
the merry aughiog OF bcvy OF school girls
than anything else, from which popularity
they receive their name. As table bird it is
highly esteemed; aud is generally preferred TO
the Canada goose. La point Of numbers 1t
exceeds the latter 10 this locality, while in
other paris the ratio is reversed.
They visit the west lu March and April, on
their regular migration to the lakes and bays
of northern Minnesota, the British possessions
and Labrador, remaining with US sometimes as
late as May in small dctachments. Many are
killed before they reach their northern breed
ing grounds. Alter raising the usual brood,
aud replcnishng their thinncd ranks, they
gather Tor the autuuual return flight, aud 10
October we see them wcudng their way to
their old and favorlte haunts. until the cold
marshes OF Arkansas and the lower Mississippi.
As they pass north in March, generally before
q suuthcrly gale which carries them along with
little apparent effort their comlog is welcomed
as harbingrr Of returning spring. They come,
too, in large numbers accompanied by all the
usual varieties of waterfowl in even greater
proiuson. -Hupcr's Magazine.
FRIENDS YEARLY MEETING The Yearly
Meeting OF the Society o! Friends (l1lck>tc)
assembled again yesterday, IN Baltimore, Tor
business, and was opened by Vim Wood, oi
Baltimore. Clerk: Levi X. Brown, of Lancaster
County, Pa. Assistant Clerk.
Reports were read from Subordinate Qlar
tcry Meetings, and occasloned much Interest
ing debate. Que Of the most important mat
tiers presented was proposal for Il change In
the Discipline of the Society, giving both the
male aud female body Of each meeting power to
act 10 cases Of admission, rejection or dsown-
lnent Of mctubcrS, with reference to the other
BODY for occurrence Remarks were made
upon the use Of tobacco, and its Influences We're
dwclt upon at some length. The practice was
denounced as perDlclous, aud deserving the
condemnation OF The meeting.
liz the evening the Eighth Annual Meeting
of the Baltimore Yearly Meeting First Day
Association was held The Executive Com
mittce reported that there were represented in
the Association eighteen schools, the aggregate
scholarship of sixteen of which is SG3; and OF
these 4Sq are the children Of Friends The
average attendance is 5l4, and the number CT
teachers is ninctythree. Eleven oil these
schools have libraries containing, 10 all, ,5J4
volumes The scholarship Of the Baltimore
mission school is POO with au average attcn-
dance Of 80, and twenty teachers.
Reports were read from the schools and ad-
dresses we're delivered by Samuel Nj. Janney,
and others.
PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD OF VIRGINIA. This
body, which was IN session 10 Winchester, last
week, adjourned Oh Saturday night, to meet 10
Staunton on the Goth of October, 1875.
Previous TO adjournment, the report of the
Commitlee on Systematic Benevolence was
adopted A narrative OF the state of religion
was adopted. showing that the Church bad en-.
joyed during the last year, great prosperity
report was made on Sabbath Schools, showing
thai the number OF Sabbath scholars had greatly
Increased during the year, and that the schoois
were doing great good. g.,
| \ paper from the trustees OF HampdcD Sid
new College was read by DR.. Hoge, in which
il was declared that the trustees declined Civ
ing the Synod u veto power over the proceed.
| ngs of their body on the ground that many OF
the members of the Synod were opposed to
the exercise Of such power. and that it might
lead to some difficulties with the Legislature OF
Virginia.
The committee on the subject Of publication
presented a report, which Was adopted, recon-
mending Contributions in behalf of the com nit
tee of publication, suggesting the proprlety OF
enlisting the services Of Christian women Of the
South 10 securing such contributions, &c.
RAppAHANSoCK OYSTERS. The Underwater
Index has the folIowlngin regard TO the oyster
trade 10 that sectlou:
Few have auy idea Of the magnitude Of this
,1ade, and yet not half OF its profits are made
by our own people, and why? The oysters arc
caught and sold TO vessels owned elsewhere,
which take them to Northe1n markets auo
after deducting the freight aud other expenses
make large profit. Captain Spot;swood, who
| commanded the Virginia oyster Eavy, aud WHO