Year: 1874

Much cunning is exhibited by these
birds in localities where they are fre-
quently disturbed. We have often seen
them in the great swamps of the Bureau
Valley, along the Illinois, come in about
dark, when it was Just too late to draw
sight, noiselessly stealing along, so as
to avoid the random shot of the hunter
returning to camp after long days
work. So attached are they to their old
grounds, and 80 liable to be pursued at
night by reckless adventures, that after
few warnings they battle the most in
telligent. Should their line of entry be
discovered tonight as they come across
the marsh from the south, tomorrow
night, If you watch, you may hear the
vibration of their wings as they pass
over the timber to the north, in their
approach to the old rice pond, or open
water of the big slough. Upon all other
occasions, and also when disturbed, they
exhibit their usual propensity to indulge
in gable and goose talk.


The most prominent among the varie-
ties in the West is the Canada goose.
The next, and existing in great numbers,
is the white-fronted or laughing goose,
called by many "brant" OF the regular
brent geese we have but few. We killed
one out of a flock in the Illinois River,
in 1860, on a sand-bar, and believe it is
the only flock we ever saw in that valley.
The brent goose is about half the size of
the Canada variety, and is about two
thirds as large as the white-fronted, mot
tied, or laughing goose. But in the alb
sence of the regular brent goose, the
notified bird known as the laughing
goose carries the name of brant. And
brant it is, SO far as the average shooter
is informed-for few of them has ever
seen a brent goose, and this is the only
bird which, to their knowledge, ever bore
the name. These same fellows call a
partridge pheasant, and an English.
snipe woodcock.


1t is. amusing to watch flock of laugh
ing geese as they approach favOrite
feeding ground or resting place. They
come first in the regular acute angle line
of flight. Suddenly they break ranks,
and with one accord the whole flock
begin series of evolutions, tumbling
and turning high in the air, and then
descending in most comical and irreg-
ular manner, to the amusement of the
observer, all the while indulging in a
jabber more resembling the merry laugh
ing of bevy of school girls than any
thing else, from which popularity they
receive their name. AS table bird it
is highly esteemed, and is generally pre-
ferred to the Canada goose. In point of
numbers it exceeds the latter in this
locality, while in other parts the ratio is
reversed.


They visit the West in March and
April, on their regular migrations to the
lakes and bays of Northern Minnesota,
the British possessions, and Labrador,
remaining with us sometimes as late as
May in small detachments. Many are
killed before they reach their northern
breeding grounds. After raising the
usual brood, and replenishing their thin
ned ranks, they gather for the autumnal
return flight, and in October we see them
vending their way to their old favorite
haunts, until the cold weather drives
them southwark to the great marshes of
Arkansas and the Lower Mississippi. As
they pass north in March, generally
before southerly gale, which carries
them along with little apparent effort,
their coming is welcomed as harbinger
of returning spring. They come. too, in
large numbers, accompanied by all the
usual varieties of waterfowl in even
greater profusion.


The Social Science Congress.


During the past few months there have
been in session in this country and in
Europe a number of associations whose
inquiries tended in a direction for the
amelioration of mankind. The Social
Science Congress, whose proceedings are
just now reaching this country, has been
for some days in session in Glasgow, and
is continuing almost the same line of in.
quiry as that followed by other con.
crosses. Its aims embrace every subject
whose development can be of any ad.
vantage to mankind, and its members
are men who are known for their vast
requirements in every branch of learn.
ing. Their aim is to advance social
science, which means to make the world
wiser and better. 1t is divided into four
departments, which represent Jurispru.
dence, Education, Health, Economy and
Trade. An adequate idea of the charac-
ter of the association can be formed from
the following programme of discussion
for the present session:


l. Is it desirable that the verdict OF
juries should be unanimous?


2. Should the testimony of any and
what persons, at present excluded as wit
ncsses, be admissible as evidence in
courts of law?


3. How far may courts of arbitration
be resorted TO as a means of settling the
disputes of nations3


4. How far should previous convic-
tions be taken into account in sentencing
criminals?


5. Is it desirable to extend police SUI
pervision to other cases than those already
provided for?


6. What are the best methods of sewer.
ing towns and of disposing of their or,
ganic refuse?


7. In what way can healthy dwellings
for workingmen be erected in lieu OF
those removed for the purpose of carry
ing out sanitary or municipal improve
ments, or for other purposes?


8. What influence has the employment
of mothers in manufactures on infant
mortality, and ought any and what re.
strictions be placed on such employ
ment?


The public will receive with no little
satisfaction full report of these import
ant subjects. They take very wide
range, and the discussion of all of them
is susceptible of developing much useful
thought. They are calculated to carry
out the ideas of sociology as advanced
by Herbert Spencer; to build up the
science for which he had laid the founda-
ton. The subjects have previously at
tracted the attention of thinkers, and
some of them have already become sub
jects of legislation. The members of
the association will bring to their delib-
erations all the information that can be
obtained on each subject, and their con-
clusions will be allowed considerable
weight with the men whose thoughts
have the most influence in controlling
the world.


Fashion Gossip.


The fashion report in recent number