The sun., 1903-10-18
WILD GEESE IN COUNCIL.
Consult atlons That Take Place During the
Flight Southwark.

LAcHINE, Canada, Oct. IA farmer in
Clarendon county who went to wheat
stubble field at nightfall to watch for bears
was surprised the other day to find large
flock OF wild geese feeding there. One
bird was actually pecking away at an ear
Of corn upon the farmers shelter, not
foot away from his hand.
Carefully thrusting his arm between the
coarse stalks, he contrived to grasp the
goose by the head and wiring its neck before
it had time to do more than set up smoth-
cred squawking and flap its wings. He
expected that it's companions would have
been frightened away, but when he crept
ont of his hiding place he saw line of
geese standing with outstretched necks,
as though inquiring what was the cause OF
the commotion.
Carefully aiming at the bird neareet to
him, he fred, and had the satisfaction Of
seeing it fall over with futtering wings.
A great crowd of geese Immediately took
wing and with wonderful rapidity made o1
safely, though in a most dsorderly man
ner. There were scores of the big birds
in the field and probably two or three
focks were holding a rendezvous there.
similar circumstance was once noticed
in Cawood township further to the north.
in the same county. In that instance four
focks convened amid the sheaves in a
field Of late wheat, and apparently spent
the whole night in consultation.
In the partial moonlight which prevailed
eighty geese were actually counted in a
long single file feeding in the stubble upon
fallen ears Of grain, and at times clustering
together as though celebrating upon some
important question. The gunners who saw
this sight were able to kill only one Of the
birds.
As rule. it is exceedingly uncommon
to find these most wary OF game birds on
the land at all in these latitudes. The
broods which have been growing all sum-
mer since their Matching. in shallow lakes
or inaccessible swamps to the far North.
gather together in tlocks OF thirty or forty
on some Of the larger lakes at this time OF
year, in preparation for their annual flight
to the South.
There plans are made, and after day or
two spent in making short jaunts to get into
proper formation the long journey begins,
which, with only an occasional stop In some
lake well stocked with food, lasts until the
broad fields and bayous Of the land Of per-
petual summer are reached.
Once the writer was privileged to witness
a bit Of a scrimmage among lot OF geese
that had chosen a long bank Of sand where
upon to settle their differences. So far as
could be made out. it was fight for SUI
premncy among the males OF the flock,
ana il lasted all one afternoon.
At last there was q tremendous honk
honking Of the geese, and after good
deal of conversation they arose. a confused
flock, circled around and around the lake,
and gradually rose to height Of probably
a hundred feet, and behold, as they cleared
h<,t tro, yy,op nj fpGf ka loa
had reduced them to due order, for they
SCARED away IN two long lines converging
to the point of an angle. where the old
gander formed the point of the wedge
which was to cleave the air through 5000
miles Of space.
Occasionally it appears that a mistake
is made, and the leader, although victorious
in the fight for supremacy over the other
males. IS not satisfactory as director OF
the expedition. He may not have good
eye for the feeding places, or may rashlv
run into storms; or some presImptuous
gander may foment rebellion against his
authority among the others.
When such emergencies arise the flock
seeks some open place and there arrnnges
the matter Sometimes this s done peace
ably by consultation, and the wedge is soon
on the wing again with ranks intact: In
the case Of the birds seen in Cawood, about
half the flock flew away first under their
themselves a divergent course. both focks
shouting vigorously at each other as long
as they were within hearing.
In another instance, one large gander,
probably deposed leader, remained be-
hind when the others sailed off, He was
seen dejectedly moping about little pond
at the edge of a clearing for some days, and
one night was found along with the do
mestic geese of the farm, in the position
of docile follower of the father of the
herd.
A huntsman who by lucky shot brought
down the leading gander found the be
reaved flock resting in a marsh two miles
away, and managed to bag two more OF
them during the four days they made the
place their headquarters, During this time
they we're evidently endeavoring to find
a leader among themselves and expert
encing much difficulty in securing the
right one
One morning another flock passed over
head, and one of the geese in the swamp
set up peculiar, penetrating cry. The
others answered, wheeled about and joined
the widowed band Apparently they were
pettioned to allow the discOnsoate crowd
TO join their ranks, for after a days rest
they all took fight together during the
night.
DEER IN NASS4CHG SETTS.