The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-22

ing the shortest course to its object in
stead of following the circuitous route of
the waterways. While 1t does not dive
while engaged in feeding, its ability TO
do so when wounded is we'll known to
the sportsmen, who often lose a bird in
consequence.
flight of-the- wild geese. except in
fOggy weather, is always very elevated;
their motion is smooth and accompanied
by little rustling. while the play Of their
wings seems heavy and laborious- Tire
flight Is generally in a straight line. or
two lines nearing each other, in both
cases the van is led by an old gander,
who every now and then utters his well
known honk. as if to announce that ev-
erything looks safe, and the hOnk is us
ually returned by some OF the party. Ex-
cepting for the undulations in the flight,
the course is in straight line. The reg
clarity with which the wild geese move
would Indicate the possession of higher
intelligence than that which marshals
the disorderly flights of other birds. The
arrangement is admirable, calculated to
serve three purposes-to preserve the
rank entire, to reduce the resistance of
the afr and TO lessen the exertfon Of the
flock. The chief who assumes the posi-
ton in the van retires to the rear when
fatigued, and is Immediately replaced by
another goose.
The most successful method of shoot
ing wild geese on the south side Of Long
Island is through the employment of live
geese decOys. These are anchored or
staked out on the flats where the birds
are in the habit of congregating AS
soon as a flock of the wild birds cores
within sight the decoys Immediately
hOnk to their wild brethren an invita-
ton to settle on the spot This call is
answered by the wild geese, who gradu-
ally approach the decOys and finally
drop into the water.
There are few experiences in the
sportsman's life SO replete with Joy and
so fraught with exhilarating excitement
as that afforded by the approach Of a
strained to their utmost tension. Owing
TO the great bulk Of the wild goose the
sportsman who is a novice a the sport
is likely to think the birds nearer than
they really are. An excellent rule to OBJ
serve when shooting these birds is to
withhold fire until the eyes can be dis
tinctly seen. Then the likelihood Of
shooting at the birds before they are
within range will be avoided.
The Canada goose is wonderfully sus-
ceptible to dOmestication, ard some
curious stories are told to illustrate it's
preference for a domestic existence. one
of these is wen worth repeating: A few
years ago a farmer named Platt resid-
ing in this neighborhood, shot and
wounded Canada goose. which, after
Delng liberated among his own fowls,
completely recovered its power of fight.
In the spring, when flock of wild geese
were winging their flight to the north
ern breeding ground, Mr.. Platt's goose,
espying them, Immediately spread its
wings and Joined the flock. The bird,
after its departure, was considered to be
lost, and Mr.. Platt gave no further
thought either to the incident or to the
bird until the following fall, when as he
was standing in his barnyard one morn
ing he noticed a wild goose detach itself
from flock which was passing over the
house and after a few circles settle
among the barnyard fowls. On catch
ing the bird and examining it he found
it to be identical with his long-lost fugi-
tive The bird. after having traversed I
hundreds, perhaps thousands of miles !
and raised its offspring, had returned to
resume the civilized life which had been
temporarily relinquished.
The Canada goose is three feet in ex- !
treme length and five feet two inches in |
spread of wings. The average weight I
is about ten mounds