The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1903-11-27
WILD GEESE IN COUNCIL.
SOmething Very Like Convention
Take Place During the Long
Flight Southwark.

geese feeding there One bird was
actually pecking away at an ear of corn
upon the farmers shelter, not foot
away from his hand, says Lachine
(Canada) report to the New York
Sun.
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 a smothered squawking and flop its
wings. He expected that its compan-
ions would have been frightened away,
but when he crept out of his hiding place
he saw line of geese standing with out
stretched necks, as though inquiring
what was the cause of the commotion.
Carefully aiming at the bird nearest
to him, he fired, and had the satisfaction
of seeing it fall over with fiutter-
ing wings. A great crowd of geese i'm
mediately took wing, and with wonderful
rapidity made off safely, though in
most disorderly manner. There were
scores of the big birds in the field, and
probably two or three f1ocks were hold
ing rendezvous there.
A similar circumstance was once no
ticed in Cawood township, further to the
north, in the same county. In that
instance four flocks convened amid the
sheaves in field of late wheat, and ap-
parently spent the whole night in con-
sultation.
In the partial moonlight which pre-
vailed 80 geese were actually counted in
long single file, feeding in the stubble
upon fallen ears of grain, and at times
clustering together as though deliberat-
ing upon some important question. The
gunners who saw this sight were able to
kill only one of the birds.
AS rule, it is exceedingly uncom-
mon to find these most wary of game
birds on the land at all in these lati-
tudes. The broods which have been
growing all summer since their Matching,
in shallow lakes or inaccessible swamps
in the far north, gather together in flocks
of 80 or 40 on some of the larger lakes
at this time of the year, in preparation
for their annual flight to the south.
There plans are made, and after day
or two spent in making short journeys to
SCI lhtO piOPOl LII lnO IOu6 JUL
ney begins, which, with only an occa-
sional stop in some lake we'll stocked
with food, lasts until the broad fields
and bayous of the land of perpetual sur
mer are reached.
Once the writer was privileged to wit
ness bit of a scrimmage among lot
of geese that had chosen long bank
of sand whereupon to settle their diff
ferences. So far as could be made out,
it was fight for supremacy among the
males of the f1eck, and it lasted all one
afternoon.
l. At last there was tremendous hoHk-
honking of the geese, and after a good
deal of conversation they arose, con-
fused flock, circled around and around
the lake, and gradually rose to a height
of probably hundred feet, and, behold,
as they cleared the tree tops, it was
manifest that the leader 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 1t appears that a mistake is
made, and the leader, although victorious
in the fight for supremacy over the 9TH
er males, is not satisfactory as director
of the expedition. He may not have
good eye for the feeding places, or may
rashly run into storms, or some pre-
sumptuous gander may foment rebel
lion against his authority among the
others.
When such emergencies arise, the
flock seeks some open place, and there
arranges the matter. Sometimes this is
done peaceably 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 own leader, the
others striking out for themselves d.
vergent course, both f1ocks shouting Wig
orously at each other as long as they were
within hearing.
In another instance one large gander,
probably a deposed leader, remained be-
hind when the others sailed off, He was
seen dejectedly moping about little
pond at the edge of clearing for some
| days, and one night was found along with
the domestic 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 bereaved flock resting in marsh
two miles away, and managed to bag two
more of them during the four days they
made the place their headquarters. Dur
| ing this time they were evidently endeav-
oring to find a leader among themselves,
and experiencing much difficulty in Sc
curing the right one.
One morning another flock passed
overhead, 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 petitioned to allow the dis
consulate crowd to join their ranks, for,
after days rest, they all took flight
together during the night
Far Behind the Times.
Mr.. Upjohn-I wish you would tell